Systems and methods for improvements to training field design for increased symbol durations

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer program products for improving training field design in packets with increased symbol durations are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of transmitting a packet on a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a preamble of the packet over a number (N STS ) of space-time-streams over a plurality of tones, the preamble including a number (N TF ) of training fields configured to be used for channel estimation for each of the N STS of space-time-streams, wherein a value of the N STS is greater than one and a value of the N TF is less than the value of the N STS . The method further includes transmitting a payload of the packet over the N STS of space-time-streams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transmitting a packet on a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 transmitting a preamble of the packet over a number (N STS ) of space-time-streams over a plurality of tones, the preamble including a number (N TF ) of training fields configured to be used for channel estimation for each of the N STS  of space-time-streams, wherein a value of the N STS  is greater than one and a value of the N TF  is less than the value of the N STS ; and   transmitting a payload of the packet over the N STS  of space-time-streams.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is a tone-interleaved training field transmitted over the plurality of tones, such that each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is transmitted on a subset of the plurality of tones and such that each tone of the plurality of tones is transmitted on by exactly one of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is transmitted over the plurality of tones, and wherein each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is part of a group of a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups transmitting to a subset of the tones of the plurality of tones based upon an orthogonal matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of groups includes either two space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams or four space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the value of the N TF  is either approximately half of the value of the N STS  or approximately one-quarter of the value of the N STS . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both the preamble and the payload are transmitted with a symbol duration of either at least 1.6 μs or at least 12.8 μs. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 generate a preamble of a packet over a number (N STS ) of space-time-streams over a plurality of tones, the preamble including a number (N TF ) of training fields configured to be used for channel estimation for each of the N STS  of space-time-streams, wherein a value of the N STS  is greater than one and a value of the N TF  is less than the value of the N STS ; 
 generate a payload of the packet to be transmitted over the N STS  of space-time-streams; and 
   a transmitter configured to transmit the packet.   
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is a tone-interleaved training field transmitted over the plurality of tones, such that each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is transmitted on a subset of the plurality of tones and such that each tone of the plurality of tones is transmitted on by exactly one of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is transmitted over the plurality of tones, and wherein each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is part of a group of a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups transmitting to a subset of the tones of the plurality of tones based upon an orthogonal matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of groups of the plurality of groups includes either two space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams or four space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the value of the N TF  is either approximately half of the value of the N STS  or approximately one-quarter of the value of the N STS . 
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein both the preamble and the payload are transmitted with a symbol duration of either at least 1.6 μs or at least 12.8 μs. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor in a device to perform a method of transmitting a packet over a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 transmitting a preamble of the packet over a number (N STS ) of space-time-streams over a plurality of tones, the preamble including a number (N TF ) of training fields configured to be used for channel estimation for each of the N STS  of space-time-streams, wherein a value of the N STS  is greater than one and a value of the N TF  is less than the value of the N STS ; and   transmitting a payload of the packet over the N STS  of space-time-streams.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is a tone-interleaved training field transmitted over the plurality of tones, such that each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is transmitted on a subset of the plurality of tones and such that each tone of the plurality of tones is transmitted on by exactly one of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is transmitted over the plurality of tones, and wherein each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is part of a group of a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups transmitting to a subset of the tones of the plurality of tones based upon an orthogonal matrix. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of groups of the plurality of groups includes either two space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams or four space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the value of the N TF  is either approximately half of the value of the N STS  or approximately one-quarter of the value of the N STS . 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein both the preamble and the payload are transmitted with a symbol duration of either at least 1.6 μs or at least 12.8 μs. 
     
     
         19 . A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
 means for transmitting a preamble of a packet over a number (N STS ) of space-time-streams over a plurality of tones, the preamble including a number (N TF ) of training fields configured to be used for channel estimation for each of the N STS  of space-time-streams, wherein a value of the N STS  is greater than one and a value of the N TF  is less than the value of the N STS ; and   means for transmitting a payload of the packet over the N STS  of space-time-streams.   
     
     
         20 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is a tone-interleaved training field transmitted over the plurality of tones, such that each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is transmitted on a subset of the plurality of tones and such that each tone of the plurality of tones is transmitted on by exactly one of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each of the N TF  of training fields is transmitted over the plurality of tones, and wherein each of the N STS  of space-time-streams is part of a group of a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups transmitting to a subset of the tones of the plurality of tones based upon an orthogonal matrix. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of groups of the plurality of groups includes either two space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams or four space-time-streams of the N STS  of space-time-streams. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the value of the N TF  is either approximately half of the value of the N STS  or approximately one-quarter of the value of the N STS . 
     
     
         24 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein both the preamble and the payload are transmitted with a symbol duration of either at least 1.6 μs or at least 12.8 μs.