High speed media access control and direct link protocol

Abstract

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a data frame is formed comprising a common portion for transmission in a format receivable by various stations, such as access points and remote stations. The data frame also comprises a dedicated portion, formatted for transmission to a specified remote station. In another aspect, the common portion is unsteered, and the dedicated portion is steered. In another aspect, an access point schedules an allocation in response to a data indication included in a common portion of a data frame transmitted from one remote station to another. In another aspect, a first station transmits a reference to a second station, which measures the reference and generates feedback therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wireless communications by a transmitting station, comprising:
 transmitting a preamble during a transmission opportunity (TXOP);   transmitting one or more packets to a first receiving station during the TXOP;   inserting guardband interframe spacings (GIFS) in the TXOP; and   transmitting one or more additional packets to one or more alternate receiving stations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preamble is used for multiple, consecutive transmissions from the transmitting station to different receiving stations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the preamble is a pilot transmission. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station comprises:
 sequentially transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preamble is configured to enable the first receiving station and the one or more alternative receiving stations to estimate a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more packets include a header. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TXOP includes an acknowledgment (ACK) request. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for wireless communications by a transmitting station, comprising:
 means for transmitting a preamble during a transmission opportunity (TXOP);   means for transmitting one or more packets to a first receiving station during the TXOP;   means for inserting guardband interframe spacings (GIFS) in the TXOP; and   means for transmitting one or more additional packets to one or more alternate receiving stations.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the preamble is used for multiple, consecutive transmissions from the transmitting station to different receiving stations. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the preamble is a pilot transmission. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station is configured to sequentially transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the preamble is configured to enable the first receiving station and the one or more alternative receiving stations to estimate a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial channel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more packets include a header. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the TXOP includes an acknowledgment (ACK) request. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for wireless communications by a transmitting station, comprising at least one processor configured to:
 transmit a preamble during a transmission opportunity (TXOP);   transmit one or more packets to a first receiving station during the TXOP;   insert guardband interframe spacings (GIFS) in the TXOP; and   transmit one or more additional packets to one or more alternate receiving stations; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the preamble is used for multiple, consecutive transmissions from the transmitting station to different receiving stations. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the preamble is a pilot transmission. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the one or more packets to the first receiving station by sequentially transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the preamble is configured to enable the first receiving station and the one or more alternative receiving stations to estimate a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial channel. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more packets include a header. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the TXOP includes an acknowledgment (ACK) request. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program product for wireless communications, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium have code stored thereon, the code executable by one or more processors for:
 transmitting a preamble during a transmission opportunity (TXOP);   transmitting one or more packets to a first receiving station during the TXOP;   inserting guardband interframe spacings (GIFS) in the TXOP; and   transmitting one or more additional packets to one or more alternate receiving stations.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the preamble is used for multiple, consecutive transmissions from the transmitting station to different receiving stations. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the preamble is a pilot transmission. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the code for transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station comprises:
 code for sequentially transmitting the one or more packets to the first receiving station.   
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the preamble is configured to enable the first receiving station and the one or more alternative receiving stations to estimate a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial channel. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more packets include a header. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the TXOP includes an acknowledgment (ACK) request.