UPLINK OR DOWNLINK MU-MIMO APPARATUS AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples generally relate to systems and methods for Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) or frequency multiplexing support for DownLink (DL) and UpLink (UL). Some embodiments relate to High-Efficiency Wireless (HE-W) Local Area Network (LAN) or High Efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard. Some embodiments relate to the 802.11 ac standard.

BACKGROUND

MU-MIMO is a form of spatial multiplexing where different spatial streams are directed to or originate from different users. In MU-MIMO, a plurality of wireless devices (e.g., Access Points (Aps)) and transmitter devices are coupled through antennas. Using MU-MIMO multiple transmitters may send separate signals and multiple receivers may receive the separate signals simultaneously and in the same band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a system, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example of a UL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example of a DL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an example of UL and DL operations, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an example of a UL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an example of a DL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example of a multi-sub-channel UL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an example of a multi-sub-channel UL and DL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an example of a schedule transmission for a UL operation and a schedule transmission for a DL operation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an example of a schedule transmission for both UL and DL operations, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of an example of a schedule transmission, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of an example of a schedule transmission, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of an example of a combined schedule and DL transmission, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of an example of a combined schedule and block acknowledge transmission, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 15 shows a flow diagram of an example of a technique, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram of another example of a technique, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of an example of a computer system, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples in this disclosure relate generally to apparatuses and methods for MU-MIMO. Examples in this disclosure may relate to frequency multiplexing in MU-MIMO.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ac standard only supports DownLink (DL) Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) and not UpLink (UL) MU-MIMO. There is currently no support for MU frequency multiplexing (e.g., Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)) in the 802.11 specification.

Discussions in the IEEE HEW study group indicate that support for DL and UL multi-user spatial and frequency multiplexing may be supported in the future. Discussed herein are apparatuses and methods that may support MU frequency or spatial multiplexing in both the UL and DL directions. A specific form of frequency and time multiplexing includes OFDMA, however other techniques of frequency and time multiplexing may be used.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a system 100, according to one or more embodiments. The system 100 may include a wireless device 102 (e.g., a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) wireless device, such as a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless device, or an AP). The system 100 may include a plurality of Stations (STAs) 104A or 104B. The STA 104A-B may be a User Equipment (UE) device. The STA 104A-B may be any communication device (e.g., laptop, desktop computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), phone, or the like), or other device that has the capability to use the protocol detailed herein. The STA 104A-B or the wireless device 102 may be mobile or stationary.

The wireless device 102 may send transmissions to the STA 104A-B and the STA 104A-B may send transmissions to the wireless device 102. The wireless device 102 may send transmissions in a MU-MIMO on a DL. The wireless device 102 may include circuitry to implement UL MU-MIMO operations or frequency multiplexing thereon, such as to provide a MU-MIMO UL and DL, such as with or without frequency multiplexing. Such a configuration may increase the bandwidth for an STA or the number of STAs that may be serviced by the wireless device 102.

In accordance with some HEW embodiments, the wireless device 102 may operate as a master STA which may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium (e.g., during a contention period) to receive exclusive control of the medium for an HEW control period (i.e., a transmission opportunity (TXOP)). The master STA may transmit an HEW master-sync transmission at the beginning of the HEW control period. During the HEW control period, HEW STAs may communicate with the master STA in accordance with a non-contention based multiple access technique. This is unlike conventional Wi-Fi communications in which devices communicate in accordance with a contention-based communication technique, rather than a multiple access technique. During the HEW control period, the master STA may communicate with HEW STAs using one or more HEW frames. During the HEW control period, legacy STAs may refrain from communicating. In some embodiments, the master-sync transmission may be referred to as an HEW control and schedule transmission.

In some embodiments, the multiple-access technique used during the HEW control period may be a scheduled OFDMA technique, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may be a Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique or a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) technique. The multiple-access technique may include spatial multiplexing.

The master STA may also communicate with legacy STAs in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In some embodiments, the master STA may also be configurable communicate with HEW STAs outside the HEW control period in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques, although this is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the links of an HEW frame may be configurable to have the same bandwidth and the bandwidth may be one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz or 160 MHz. In some embodiments, a 320 MHz bandwidth may be used. In these embodiments, each link of an HEW frame may be configured for transmitting a number of spatial streams.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example of a protocol for a UL operation in a MU-MIMO configuration, according to one or more embodiments. The STAs 104A-B may send data to the wireless device 102 using a single user access technique. The conventional technique may include the STA 104A waiting a period of time (e.g., an Arbitration Inter-Frame Space (AIFS) time 206 plus a random time). The STA 104A may transmit data 202A (e.g., with an indicator that the STA 104A has more queued data to transmit) to the wireless device 102 at a first time and the STA 104B may transmit data 202B (e.g., with an indicator that the STA 104A has more queued data to transmit) to the wireless device 102 at a different time. The wireless device 102 may transmit a Block Acknowledge (BA) 204A after receiving the data 202A-B. The STAs 104A-B may “piggy back” an indication on the data frame that they have additional data queued for transmission. One method for signaling this indication may include using a “More Data” field in a Medium Access Control (MAC) header of a data frame.

The wireless device 102 may recognize that multiple STAs 104A-B have data queued for transmission. To improve access efficiency, the wireless device 102 may transmit a Scheduling Frame (SCH) 208. The SCH may allocate resources to the STAs 104A-B with pending traffic. Resources may include sub-channels (frequency resources) or spatial streams (spatial resources). The STAs 104A-B may use the allocated resources to send data 202C or 202D to the wireless device 102. The wireless device 102 may respond to the data transmission with a Multi-user Block Acknowledge (MBA) 210 indicating whether or not the data 202C-D was received successfully. The MBA 210 may indicate which set(s) of data of the multiple sets of data 202C-D transmitted were received, such as to indicate to the STA 104A-B whether to re-send the data 202C-D.

FIG. 3 shows block diagram of an example of a DL operation 300. The wireless device 102 may transmit a Physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) over one or more subsets of the spatial streams allocated to each STA 104A-B. Following the data 302A or 302B transmission, one STA 104A may respond with an immediate BA 304A response. The other STAs 104B addressed in the MU PPDU may be polled in turn using a Block Acknowledge Request (BAR) frame 306 and return their BA 304B response. This protocol for the 802.11 specification for MU-MIMO may be enhanced, such as to be more efficient, such as is discussed herein.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an example of a DL and UL MU-MIMO communication protocol 400 and for frequency multiplexing the DL and UL MU-MIMO communication, according to one or more embodiments. The communication protocol 400 may support MU frequency multiplexing and spatial multiplexing for both UL and DL.

The wireless device 102 may transmit an SCH 402 on multiple sub-channels (e.g., each sub-channel may be a different frequency band), or across the entire channel, to the STAs 104A-B. The SCH 402 may transmit the SCH 402 after waiting a period of time (e.g., the AIFS plus a random amount of time 404). Data 406A or 406B may be transmitted to a respective STA 104A-B on the sub-channel that the STA 104A-B is communicating with. The SCH 402 and the data 406A-B may be sent in the same message or packet, such as shown in FIG. 4. The STA 104A-B may transmit a BA 408A-B to the wireless device 102, such as in response to receiving the data 406A-B. In the case of a UL, the STA 104A-B may transmit data 410A-B with the BA 408A-B. The BA 408A-B or the data 410A-B may be transmitted at a time or on a sub-channel or spatial stream consistent with the SCH 402. The wireless device 102 may transmit an MBA 412, such as in response to receiving the data 410A-B.

The following variations, among others, may be included: (1) An SCH may specify spatial or frequency resources for a UL transmission; (2) An SCH may specify a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) or transmit power each STA is to use for a UL transmission; (3) Transmission of an SCH in a separate PPDU from the PPDU carrying the DL data frames and using a legacy compatible format so that legacy STAs may receive it and set their Network Allocation Vector (NAV) for a Transmit (TX) Operation (OP) (jointly TXOP) duration, or if the SCH is separate from the data frame, then SCH and the data frame may each have their own PHY header, if they are not separate then they may share a PHY header; (4) Transmission of multiple SCH in legacy compatible PPDUs, simultaneously, with each in a different sub-channel, such that the SCH contained in each frame applies only to STAs receiving on a respective sub-channel; (5) Transmission of the SCH as part of the same PPDU carrying the DL data frames; (6) Transmission of multiple SCH in the PPDU carrying the DL data frames, where each SCH frame occupies a different set of sub-channels with the schedule in each SCH frame applying to the STAs receiving on those sub-channels; (7) A DL PPDU carrying data frames for different users, where the data frames for a specific user occupy a subset of the sub-channels or spatial streams used by the PPDU; (8) Transmitting in an UL a PPDU from each STA that has been allocated frequency or spatial resources and uses the assigned resources; (9) Including a BA in the UL PPDU, where the BA frame acknowledges data frames received in the DL PPDU; (10) Including zero or more data frames in the UL PPDU; (11) A DL PPDU transmission (i.e., from a wireless device) that carries a single MBA that acknowledges data frames received from multiple STAs; (12) A DL PPDU that includes separate BA, one for each STA that sent a data frame to the wireless device during the uplink phase, where each BA uses separate sub-channels or spatial resources; or (13) A DL PPDU that includes multiple MBA, where each MBA uses sub-channels and spatial streams that are receivable by the STAs that are the intended recipients.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 500 for DL only MU-MIMO frequency multiplexed communication, according to one or more embodiments. The wireless device 102 may transmit a DL SCH 502 to the STA 104A-B, such as after an AIFS plus a random back off time 504. The wireless device 102 may transmit data 506A to the STA 104A on a first sub-channel or spatial stream and data 506B to the STA 104B on a second sub-channel or spatial stream, the second sub-channel or spatial stream different than the first sub-channel or spatial (e.g., a different frequency band than the first sub-channel). The STA 104A may transmit a BA 508A to the wireless device 102 on the first sub-channel or spatial stream and the STA 104B may transmit a BA 508B to the wireless device 102 on the second sub-channel or spatial stream, such as in response to receiving the respective data 506A-B.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an example of a MU MIMO, non-frequency multiplexed, communication protocol 600 for UL only communication, according to one or more embodiments. The wireless device 102 may transmit a UL SCH 602 to the STA 104A-B, such as after an AIFS plus a random back off time. The STA 104A-B may transmit data 604A-B to the wireless device 102, such as at a time consistent with a time indicated by the SCH 602. The wireless device 102 may transmit an MBA 606 to the STA 104A-B, such as in response to receiving the data 604A-B.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example of a MU MIMO, frequency multiplexed, communication protocol 700 for UL only communication, according to one or more embodiments. The communication protocol 700 may be similar to the communication protocol 600 with the SCH 702A or 702B transmitted and received on different sub-channels or spatial streams, the data 704A or 704B transmitted on different sub-channels or spatial streams, and a BA 706A or 706B transmitted on different sub-channels or spatial streams. The SCH 702A may be transmitted on the same sub-channel or spatial stream as the data 704A and the BA 706A (the same for the SCH 702B, the data 704B, and the BA 706B).

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an example of a MU-MIMO, frequency multiplexed communication protocol 800 for UL and DL communication, according to one or more embodiments. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the BA 804A, 804B, 804C, or 804D may be added to the next DL PPDU that carries data 806A, 806B, 806C, or 806D to those STAs 104A-B that transmitted data 801A or 810B in a previous UL PPDU. The SCH 802A or 802B may be used for both DL and UL communication. The BA 804A-D may be combined with the SCH 802A-B or the DL data 806A-D. The BA 808A-B may be combined with the UL data 810A-B. While FIG. 8 shows the SCH 802A-B for both UL and DL, the SCH may be used for either DL or UL, or both, such as by using MU-MIMO, frequency multiplexing, or both.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 900 for UL and DL communication, according to one or more embodiments. The communication protocol 900 may include a UL SCH 902 and a separate DL SCH 908. The wireless device 102 may transmit a UL SCH 902 to the STA 104A-B. The UL SCH 902 may be transmitted across the entire channel, such as shown in FIG. 9, or may be split in accord with different sub-channels or spatial streams and the SCH may be transmitted through the respective sub-channel or spatial stream. The data 904A-B may be received by the wireless device 102 on the sub-channel or spatial stream, such as may be indicated to the STA 104A-B by a MAC frame or a preamble. The data 904A-B may be received at a time that is consistent with a time indicated by the SCH 902. The wireless device 102 may transmit an MBA 906 to the STA 104A-B, such as through a transmission across the entire channel or spatial streams or to one or more of the sub-channels or spatial streams, such as the sub-channels or spatial streams that the STA 104A-B is communicating on.

The DL SCH 908 may be transmitted across the entire channel, such as shown in FIG. 9, or may be configured in accord with a respective sub-channel or spatial stream and the SCH may be transmitted through the respective sub-channel or spatial stream. The data 910 may be received by the STA 104A-B on the sub-channel or spatial stream that was used to transmit the data 910. The data 904A-B may be transmitted at a time that is consistent with a time indicated by the SCH 908. The STA 104A may transmit a BA 912A to the wireless device 102, such as by the spatial stream or sub-channel that the data 910 was received on. The wireless device 102 may transmit a BAR 914A to the STA 104A-B, such as through a transmission across the entire channel or spatial stream or to one or more of the sub-channels or spatial streams, such as the sub-channel or spatial stream that the STA 104A-B is communicating on. The STA 104B may transmit a BA 912B to the wireless device 102, such as in response to receiving the BAR 914A.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 1000 for UL and DL communication using a single UL and DL SCH 1002, according to one or more embodiments. The communication protocol 1000 may be similar to the communication protocol 900, with the communication protocol 1000 including an SCH 1002 to schedule both the UL and DL transmissions (i.e. the UL transmission from the STA 104A-B and the DL transmission from the wireless device 102). Note that scheduling may include indicating a time frame in which the wireless device 102 or the STA 104A-B is to monitor a channel, spatial stream, or sub-channel for data.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of an example of an SCH architecture 1100, according to one or more embodiments. Information contained in an SCH frame include a spatial stream indicator, a sub-channel indicator, MCS, or transmit power for each STA, among others. The spatial stream and sub-channel allocation in the SCH frame may be represented as a two-dimensional map that is divided into spatial streams in one dimension and sub-channels in another dimension.

The Association ID (AID) position in the two-dimensional array (or map) may indicate that that resource (sub-channel associated with that sub-channel index and spatial stream associated with that spatial stream index) is allocated to the STA that was assigned that AID.

The mapping information (map) may be fragmented into each sub-channel. Each fragment may include information for that sub-channel. The STAs may monitor the map information on the sub-channel(s) assigned to them. The assignment of the sub-channel and the assignment of the spatial stream may be done in a separate configuration frame (e.g., a map Configuration frame).

Transmission of SCH may be non-High Throughput (HT) format, such that legacy stations may detect and set NAV for the TXOP duration. The size (i.e. the number of bits) of the map field may depend on the number of sub-channels or the number of spatial streams available or in use.

The map overhead (number of signaling bits required to send an SCH frame) may be reduced in a variety of ways. The wireless device may transmit map information as long-term configuration information or the map information may be carried in a Beacon or in an SCH, which may be sent periodically, wherein the period may be configured to reduce an amount of times the SCH is sent. In one or more embodiments, another frame (e.g., a MU-initial frame) may be used to initiate MU-MIMO or frequency multiplexed transmission with minimum information in it, such as before a TXOP (e.g., a UL PPDU or DL PPDU), such as in an embodiment in which the SCH is not sent frequently.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 1200 configured to reduce map or SCH overhead, according to one or more embodiments. Multiple maps may be specified in a beacon or SCH 1202 which is not frequently updated or sent. The SCH 1202 may assign a map ID for each map configuration. The wireless device 102 may use another frame (e.g., MU-init 1204A or 1204B) to indicate a map ID (e.g., only a map ID) before the start of a TXOP (e.g., UL or DL PPDU or UL or DL transmission). The STA 104A-B may transmit data 1206A-D consistent with the map ID indicated in the MU-init 1204A-B. The wireless device 102 may transmit an MBA 1208A-B, such as in response to receiving the data 1206A-D.

In one or more embodiments, where multiple maps are specified in a beacon or SCH, the map ID may be optional. For example, if a DL transmission is to be followed by a UL transmission, the SCH may indicate this to the STA and the map ID may not need to be transmitted, such as before the UL transmission.

Different maps may be carried either in the same SCH or separate SCHs, such as different SCHs on separate sub-channels in the case of a frequency multiplexed communication protocol. For example, map may be defined as map Information Element (IE) and one SCH may carry multiple such IEs. The map IE may include a map ID and the corresponding map information.

Based on the map(s) information carried in the SCH frame(s) sent from the wireless device 102, the STAs 104A-B only need to listen to the subset of sub-channels or spatial streams that are assigned to them. The MU-init frame then carries the map ID which tells the STAs 104A-B which map is going to take effect in the next TXOP. The STA 104A-B may decode or transmit packets based on the map ID. The MU-init, in one or more embodiments, does not carry the map information, but only carries map ID, such as to reduce overhead. The MU-init frame may also contain MCS and power transmission information used by the STA 104A-B, or such information may be carried in SCH instead of MU-init frame.

Another way to reduce overhead may include the wireless device sending only the differences in map changes to reduce overhead (e.g., the amount of information to be sent to the STAs 104A-B), such as may be considered a delta SCH.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 1300, according to one or more embodiments. The SCH 1304 may be combined with a DL data 1306 multiuser transmission, such as to reduce overhead. In such an embodiment, the map in SCH 1304 may be designed as a new MAC header carrying the map information. The map information may be carried in a preamble 1302 or carried in a MAC header.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of an example of a communication protocol 1400, according to one or more embodiments. The communication protocol 1400 is similar to the communication protocol 1300, with the communication protocol 1400 including an MBA 1402 with the preamble 1302, SCH 1304, and DL data 1306. The MBA 1402 may acknowledge receipt of previously transmitted UL data.

Note that the order of the MBA, SCH, DL data, or preamble may be flexible, such as to be in a different position or order than that shown in the FIGS.

The DL ACK for multiple STAs may be carried in a single frame MBA. The DL ACK may be combined with SCH, such as to reduce overhead. The DL ACK that acknowledges the reception of the UL MU data transmission may be combined with the DL data. Similarly, the UL data may carry the UL ACK that is used to acknowledge the reception of the DL multiuser data transmissions.

FIG. 15 shows a flow diagram of an example of a method 1500 according to one or more embodiments. At 1502, an SCH may be transmitted to schedule a UL transmission. The SCH may be transmitted from a wireless device or to an STA. The SCH may be transmitted using a plurality of spatial streams or one or more sub-channels. At 1504, a BA may be transmitted in response to receiving UL data, such as from a plurality of STAs. The BA may be transmitted to the STAs using the plurality of spatial streams or one or more sub-channels.

Each sub-channel may include a plurality of spatial streams. Each sub-channel may include or occupy a different frequency band than the other sub-channels. The SCH may indicate to the STA when to monitor a particular sub-channel or spatial stream. The SCH may be divided into a plurality of SCHs, one SCH for each sub-channel or spatial stream. Transmitting the SCH may include transmitting an SCH of the plurality of SCHs on a respective sub-channel or spatial stream that the SCH of the plurality of SCHs is associated with.

The technique 1500 may include transmitting, using the plurality of spatial streams or sub-channels, DL data to the plurality of STAs. Two or more of the SCH, DL data, and BA may be combined into a single frame. The SCH may include a plurality of maps to schedule a plurality of TXOPs. The technique 1500 may include transmitting a map ID frame indicating which map of the plurality of maps a next TXOP is associated with.

FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram of an example of a method 1600, according to one or more embodiments. At 1602, an SCH may be transmitted to schedule a DL transmission. The SCH may be transmitted using a plurality of sub-channels, where each of the sub-channels includes a plurality of spatial streams. The SCH may indicate which respective sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels and which spatial stream of the respective sub-channel to monitor for the DL transmission. At 1604, a BA may be received from each STA that received DL data. The BA may be received on the respective sub-channel and sub-channel which the SCH indicated the STA is to monitor.

The SCH may include a plurality of maps, each map may include a corresponding map ID. Each map may schedule a different TXOP. Transmitting the SCH may include transmitting a BA with the SCH, the BA acknowledging receipt of previously transmitted DL data. The method 1600 may include transmitting a delta SCH, the delta SCH including only information that has changed since a last SCH or delta SCH transmission.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 1700 upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may perform. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1700 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. The machine 1700 may be a part of an STA or wireless device as discussed herein. In a networked deployment, the machine 1700 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-client network environments. In an example, the machine 1700 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environment. The machine 1700 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine, such as a base station. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer cluster configurations.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations when operating. A module includes hardware. In an example, the hardware may be specifically configured to carry out a specific operation (e.g., hardwired). In an example, the hardware may include configurable execution units (e.g., transistors, circuits, etc.) and a computer readable medium containing instructions, where the instructions configure the execution units to carry out a specific operation when in operation. The configuring may occur under the direction of the executions units or a loading mechanism. Accordingly, the execution units are communicatively coupled to the computer readable medium when the device is operating. In this example, the execution units may be a member of more than one module. For example, under operation, the execution units may be configured by a first set of instructions to implement a first module at one point in time and reconfigured by a second set of instructions to implement a second module.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 1700 may include a hardware processor 1702 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 1704 and a static memory 1706, some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 1708. The machine 1700 may further include a display unit 1710, an alphanumeric input device 1712 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 1714 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit 1710, input device 1712 and UI navigation device 1714 may be a touch screen display. The machine 1700 may additionally include a storage device (e.g., drive unit) 1716, a signal generation device 1718 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 1720, and one or more sensors 1721, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine 1700 may include an output controller 1728, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.). The machine 1700 may include one or more radios 1730 (e.g., transmission, reception, or transceiver devices). The radios 1730 may include one or more antennas to receive signal transmissions. The radios 1730 may be coupled to or include the processor 1702. The processor 1702 may cause the radios 1730 to perform one or more transmit or receive operations. Coupling the radios 1730 to such a processor may be considered configuring the radio 1730 to perform such operations.

The storage device 1716 may include a machine readable medium 1722 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 1724 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. The instructions 1724 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 1704, within static memory 1706, or within the hardware processor 1702 during execution thereof by the machine 1700. In an example, one or any combination of the hardware processor 1702, the main memory 1704, the static memory 1706, or the storage device 1716 may constitute machine readable media.

While the machine readable medium 1722 is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 1724.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 1700 and that cause the machine 1700 to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples may include solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

The instructions 1724 may further be transmitted or received over a communications network 1726 using a transmission medium via the network interface device 1720 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communication networks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family of standards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others. In an example, the network interface device 1720 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect to the communications network 1726. In an example, the network interface device 1720 may include a plurality of antennas to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 1700, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The present subject matter may be described by way of several examples.

Example 1 may include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, a means for performing acts, or a device readable memory including instructions that, when performed by the device, may cause the device to be configured to perform acts), such as may include or use circuitry (e.g., a transceiver configured) to transmit, over a plurality of spatial streams, a Schedule frame (SCH) to a plurality of Stations (STAs) to schedule an Uplink (UL) transmission, and transmit, over the plurality of spatial streams, a Block Acknowledge (BA) to the plurality of STAs, in response to receiving data from the plurality of STAs.

Example 2 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 1, to include or use, wherein the circuitry to transmit the SCH includes the circuitry to transmit the SCH over a plurality of sub-channels, each sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels allocated spatial streams of the plurality of spatial streams, wherein the SCH includes information to indicate to an STA of the plurality of STAs which sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels and which spatial stream allocated to the sub-channel the STA is to monitor for data.

Example 3 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 2, to include or use, wherein the SCH is divided into a plurality of SCHs, one SCH for each sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels, and wherein the circuitry is to transmit each SCH on a respective sub-channel simultaneously.

Example 4 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 2-3, to include or use the circuitry to transmit, over the plurality of spatial streams and sub-channels, Downlink (DL) data to the plurality of STAs at a time that is consistent with a time indicated in the SCH.

Example 5 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 4, to include or use, wherein the circuitry is further to transmit a Block Acknowledge (BA) in a same frame as the SCH, the BA acknowledging that previously transmitted Uplink (UL) transmission was received.

Example 6 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 4-5, to include or use, wherein the circuity is to transmit two or more of the SCH, DL data, and BA in a single frame.

Example 7 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 4-6, to include or use, wherein the SCH includes a plurality of maps to schedule a plurality of transmit operations, and wherein the circuitry is further to transmit, before transmitting the UL transmission or the DL data, a map Identification (ID) (e.g., in a map ID frame) indicating which map of the plurality of maps a next transmit operation is associated with.

Example 8 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 4-7, to include or use, wherein the SCH includes a plurality of maps to schedule a plurality of transmit operations, wherein a transmit operation of the transmit operations includes a DL transmission followed by a UL transmission, and wherein the DL transmission indicates a map ID indicating which map of the plurality of maps a next transmit operation is associated with.

Example 9 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 1-8, to include or use, wherein the circuitry is further to transmit a delta SCH to the plurality of STAs to alter the SCH, the delta SCH indicating one or more changes to the SCH. Example 10 may include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, a means for performing acts, or a device readable memory including instructions that, when performed by the device, may cause the device to be configured to perform acts), such as may include or use circuitry (e.g., a transceiver configured) to transmit, over a plurality of sub-channels, wherein each sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels allocated a spatial stream of a plurality of spatial streams, a Schedule frame (SCH) to a plurality of Stations (STAs) to schedule a Downlink (DL) transmission, the SCH indicating which respective sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels and which spatial stream allocated to the respective sub-channel to monitor for the DL transmission.

Example 11 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 10, to include or use, wherein the circuitry to transmit the SCH includes the circuitry to transmit a plurality of maps, each map including a corresponding map Identification (ID), wherein each map schedules a different Transmit Operation (TXOP).

Example 12 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 10-11, to include or use, wherein the circuitry is to transmit a Block Acknowledge (BA) in a same frame as the SCH, the BA acknowledging that previously transmitted Uplink (UL) transmission was received.

Example 13 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 10-12, to include or use, wherein the circuitry is to transmit a delta SCH to the STAs to alter the SCH, the delta SCH indicating one or more changes to the SCH.

Example 14 may include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, a means for performing acts, or a device readable memory including instructions that, when performed by the device, may cause the device to be configured to perform acts), such as may include or use transmitting, over a plurality of spatial streams, a Schedule frame (SCH) to a plurality of Stations (STAs) to schedule an Uplink (UL) transmission, and transmitting, over the plurality of spatial streams, a Block Acknowledge (BA) to the plurality of STAs, in response to receiving data from the plurality of STAs.

Example 15 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 14, to include or use, wherein transmitting, using the plurality of spatial streams, includes transmitting, using a plurality of sub-channels, each sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels allocated a spatial stream of the plurality of spatial streams, each of the plurality of sub-channels occupying a different frequency band, and wherein the SCH includes information to indicate to an STA of the plurality of STAs which sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels and which spatial stream allocated to the sub-channel the STA is to monitor for data.

Example 16 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-15, to include or use, wherein the SCH is divided into a plurality of SCHs, one SCH for each sub-channel, and wherein transmitting the SCH includes transmitting the SCH on a respective sub-channel that the SCH is associated with.

Example 17 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-16, to include or use transmitting, over the plurality of spatial streams and sub-channels, Downlink (DL) data to the plurality of STAs.

Example 18 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-17, to include or use, wherein two or more of the SCH, DL data, and BA are transmitted in a single frame.

Example 19 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-18, to include or use, wherein the SCH includes a plurality of maps to schedule a plurality of transmit operations, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting, before transmitting the UL transmission or the DL data, a map Identification (ID) (e.g., in a map ID frame) indicating which map of the plurality of maps a next transmit operation is associated with.

Example 20 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-19, to include or use, wherein the SCH includes a plurality of maps to schedule a plurality of transmit operations, wherein the plurality of transmit operations include a DL transmission followed by a UL transmission and wherein the DL transmission indicates a map ID that identifies which map of the plurality of maps a next Transmit Operation (TXOP) is associated with.

Example 21 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 14-20, to include or use transmitting a delta SCH to the STAs to alter the SCH, the delta SCH indicating one or more changes to the SCH.

Example 22 may include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, a means for performing acts, or a device readable memory including instructions that, when performed by the device, may cause the device to be configured to perform acts), such as may include or use transmitting, using a plurality of sub-channels, each of the plurality of sub-channels allocated a plurality of spatial streams, a Schedule frame (SCH) to a plurality of Stations (STAs) to schedule a Downlink (DL) data transmission, the SCH indicating which respective sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels and which spatial stream allocated to the respective sub-channel to monitor for the DL transmission, or receiving, using the plurality of sub-channels and the plurality of spatial streams, an acknowledge frame from each STA that received the transmitted DL data.

Example 23 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 22, to include or use, wherein the SCH includes a plurality of maps, each map including a corresponding map Identification (ID), wherein each map schedules a different Transmit Operation (TXOP).

Example 24 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 22-23, to include or use, wherein transmitting the SCH includes transmitting a Block Acknowledge (BA) with the SCH, the BA acknowledging receipt of previously transmitted DL data.

Example 25 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 22-24, to include or use transmitting a delta SCH, the delta SCH including only information that has changed since a last SCH or delta SCH transmission.

Example 26 may include or use, or may optionally be combined with the subject matter of at least one of Examples 1-13 to include or use a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, at least one radio (e.g., transceiver) coupled to the processor, or at least one antenna coupled to the radio.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which methods, apparatuses, and systems discussed herein may be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

As used herein, a “−” (dash) used when referring to a reference number means “or”, in the non-exclusive sense discussed in the previous paragraph, of all elements within the range indicated by the dash. For example, 103A-B means a nonexclusive “or” of the elements in the range {103A, 103B}, such that 103A-103B includes “103A but not 103B”, “103B but not 103A”, and “103A and 103B”.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments may be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

UPLINK OR DOWNLINK MU-MIMO APPARATUS AND METHOD

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