Mac extensions for smart antenna support

Abstract

Apparatus and methods implement aggregation frames and allocation frames. The aggregation frames include a plurality of MSDUs or fragments thereof aggregated or otherwise combined together. An aggregation frame makes more efficient use of the wireless communication resources. The allocation frame defines a plurality of time intervals. The allocation frame specifies a pair of stations that are permitted to communicate with each other during each time interval as well as the antenna configuration to be used for the communication. This permits stations to know ahead of time when they are to communicate, with which other stations and the antenna configuration that should be used. A buffered traffic field can also be added to the frames to specify how much data remains to be transmitted following the current frame. This enables network traffic to be scheduled more effectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process of receiving an aggregation frame of information sent using wireless data transmission, comprising:
 providing a wireless device that includes host logic, a MAC sublayer and a PHY layer coupled together, the wireless device communicating over a wireless network;   receiving on the wireless device over the wireless network the aggregation frame of information, the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes:
 (i) receiving frame subbodies each including a MSDU field, 
 (ii) receiving frame subbody length fields for the length of each of the MSDU fields, and 
 (iii) receiving a single frame check sequence field for all the subbodies in the aggregation frame of information; and 
   processing the aggregation frame of information using the wireless device.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a single MAC header that includes a frame control field and a sequence control field. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a single MAC header that includes a bit of information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes one sequence control field for each of the frame subbody data fields. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         14 . A process of receiving an aggregation frame of information transmitted using wireless data transmission, comprising:
 providing a wireless device including host logic, a MAC sublayer and a PHY layer coupled together, the wireless device communicating over a wireless network;   receiving on the wireless device over the wireless network the aggregation frame of information, the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes:
 (i) receiving frame subbodies, 
 (ii) receiving a frame subbody length field for the length of each of the frame subbodies, and 
 (iii) receiving a unique sequence control field for each frame subbody; and 
   processing the aggregation frame of information using the wireless device.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a field in the aggregation frame of information that indicates to the wireless device that the received frame of information is an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a header that includes a field of information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 14  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         25 . A process of sending an aggregation frame of information using wireless data transmission, comprising:
 providing a wireless device including host logic, a MAC sublayer and a PHY layer coupled together, the wireless device communicating over a wireless network;   forming on the wireless device the aggregation frame of information, the forming the aggregation frame of information includes:
 (i) forming frame subbodies each including a MSDU field, 
 (ii) forming frame subbody length fields for the length of each of the MSDU fields, and 
 (iii) forming a single frame check sequence field for all the subbodies in the aggregation frame of information; and 
   sending the aggregation frame of information over the wireless network using the wireless device.   
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a single MAC header that includes a frame control field and a sequence control field. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a single MAC header that includes a bit of information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming includes forming a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming includes forming a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes one sequence control field for each of the frame subbody data fields. 
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 25  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         38 . A process of sending an aggregation frame of information transmitted using wireless data transmission, comprising:
 providing a wireless device including host logic, a MAC sublayer and a PHY layer coupled together, the wireless device communicating over a wireless network;   forming on the wireless device the aggregation frame of information, the forming the aggregation frame of information includes:
 (i) forming frame subbodies, 
 (ii) forming a frame subbody length field for the length of each of the frame subbodies 
 (iii) forming a unique sequence control field for each frame subbody; and 
   sending the aggregation frame of information over the wireless network using the wireless device.   
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 38  in which the forming the aggregation frame of information includes forming a field in the aggregation frame of information that indicates that the frame of information is an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         41 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         42 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving includes receiving a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 38  in which the receiving the aggregation frame of information includes receiving a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         48 . A station for wireless communication comprising:
 host logic;   a physical layer; and   a MAC sublayer coupled to the host logic and the physical layer, the MAC sublayer receiving frames of information from the physical layer during wireless communication and the MAC sublayer recognizing at least one frame of information as being an aggregation frame of information, the aggregation frame of information includes:   (i) frame subbodies each including a MSDU field,   (ii) frame subbody length fields for the length of each of the MSDU fields; and   (iii) a single frame check sequence field for all the subbodies in the aggregation frame of information   
     
     
         49 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a single MAC header that includes a frame control field and a sequence control field. 
     
     
         50 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         51 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a single MAC header that includes a bit of information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         52 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         53 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         54 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         55 . The station of  claim 48  including a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         56 . The station of  claim 48  including a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         57 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes one sequence control field for each of the frame subbody data fields. 
     
     
         58 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         59 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         60 . The station of  claim 48  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         61 . The station of  claim 48  including a SISO antenna coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         62 . The station of  claim 48  including a MIMO antenna couple to the physical layer. 
     
     
         63 . A station for wireless communication comprising:
 host logic;   a physical layer; and   a MAC sublayer coupled to the host logic and the physical layer, the MAC sublayer receiving frames of information from the physical layer during wireless communication and the MAC sublayer recognizing at least one frame of information as being an aggregation frame of information, the aggregation frame of information includes:   (i) frame subbodies,   (ii) a frame subbody length field for the length of each of the frame subbodies; and   (iii) a unique sequence control field for each frame subbody.   
     
     
         64 . The station of  claim 63  in which aggregation frame of information includes a field that indicates to the station that the received frame of information is an aggregation data frame. 
     
     
         65 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         66 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         67 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         68 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         69 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         70 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         71 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         72 . The station of  claim 63  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         73 . The station of  claim 63  including a SISO antenna coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         74 . The station of  claim 63  including a MIMO antenna couple to the physical layer. 
     
     
         75 . A station for wireless communication comprising:
 host logic;   a physical layer;   a MAC sublayer coupled to the host logic and to the physical layer, the MAC sublayer forming at least part of an aggregation frame of information for transmission during wireless communications, the aggregation frame of information including:   (i) frame subbodies each comprising a MSDU field,   (ii) frame subbody length fields for the length of each of the MSDU fields; and   (iii) a single frame check sequence field for all the subbodies in the aggregation frame of information   
     
     
         76 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a single MAC header, the MAC header including a frame control field and a sequence control field. 
     
     
         77 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         78 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a single MAC header that includes a bit of information that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         79 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         80 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         81 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         82 . The station of  claim 75  including a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         83 . The station of  claim 75  including a frame body that includes the MSDU fields and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each MSDU field. 
     
     
         84 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes one sequence control field for each of the frame subbody data fields. 
     
     
         85 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         86 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         87 . The station of  claim 75  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         88 . The station of  claim 75  including a SISO antenna coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         89 . The station of  claim 75  including a MIMO antenna couple to the physical layer. 
     
     
         90 . A station for wireless communication comprising:
 host logic;   a physical layer;   a MAC sublayer coupled to the host logic and to the physical layer, the MAC sublayer forming at least part of an aggregation frame of information for transmission during wireless communications, the aggregation frame of information including:   (i) frame subbodies,   (ii) a frame subbody length field for the length of each of the frame subbodies; and   (iii) a unique sequence control field for each frame subbody.   
     
     
         91 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a field that indicates that the frame of information is an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         92 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a header that includes a frame control field that indicates an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         93 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         94 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame control field in which bits  4 - 7  contain a value of “1000” to indicate an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         95 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         96 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a frame body that includes the frame subbodies and the frame subbody length fields, there being one frame subbody length field separate from and for each frame subbody. 
     
     
         97 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a frame subbody count field. 
     
     
         98 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a direction traffic stream identifier field. 
     
     
         99 . The station of  claim 90  in which the aggregation frame of information includes a MAC header that includes a buffered traffic field. 
     
     
         100 . The station of  claim 90  including a SISO antenna coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         101 . The station of  claim 90  including a MIMO antenna couple to the physical layer. 
     
     
         102 . A station for wireless communication comprising:
 host logic;   a physical layer;   a MAC sublayer coupled to the host logic and to the physical layer, the MAC sublayer forming at least part of an frame of information for transmission during wireless communications, the frame of information including:   i. a field indicating that the frame of information is an aggregation frame of information;   ii. a header;   iii. a frame body that includes frame subbodies;   iv. a frame subbody length field for the length of each frame subbody;   v. a sequence control field for each frame subbody; and   vi. a frame check sequence field.   
     
     
         103 . The station of  claim 102  in which the header includes the field indicating that the frame of information is an aggregation frame of information. 
     
     
         104 . The station of  claim 102  in which the frame body includes the frame subbody length fields.