Speed frame exchange within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Abstract

A signaling protocol allows for speed frame exchange between different wireless communication devices within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communication system. A listening wireless communication device analyzes state of speed frame indicator bits within frames transmitted from a first other wireless communication device to determine the entire radio frame exchanges between that first other wireless communication device and a second other wireless communication device. The second other wireless communication device may be a hidden node relative to the listening wireless communication device such that all or less than all transmissions from the hidden node are received by the listening device. The listening wireless communication device determines the status of the communication medium (e.g., the air in the context of a wireless communication system), so that it can transmit successfully without interfering with any ongoing communications between the first and second other wireless communication devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 transmit first one or more frames to a first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes information for interpretation by a second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device to determine when the first other wireless communication device is likely transmitting second one or more frames to the wireless communication device; and 
 receive the second one or more frames from the first other wireless communication device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit the first one or more frames to the first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes the information for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device also to determine at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device includes at least one of:
 a single frame exchange between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   symmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   asymmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   frame length of at least one frame transmitted by the first other wireless communication device to the wireless communication device;   channel allocation of at least one communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; or   transmit power of at least one of the wireless communication device or the first other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the information within the first one or more frames for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device includes state of a predetermined at least one bit contained within the first one or more frames. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined at least one bit including at least one of a more data bit field, an acknowledgement indication bit field, or one media access control (MAC) header bit and two physical layer (PHY) header bits. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 4 , wherein state of the predetermined at least one bit indicating at least one of an additional frame to be transmitted, a last frame to be transmitted, a type of frame being transmitted, or reservation of a communication medium for some period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the second other wireless communication device includes a smart meter station (SMSTA). 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an access point (AP), wherein the first other wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA). 
 
     
     
         9 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive first one or more frames from a first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes information for interpretation by a second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the wireless communication device to determine when the wireless communication device is likely transmitting second one or more frames to the first wireless communication device; and 
 transmit the second one or more frames to the first other wireless communication device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive the first one or more frames to the first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes the information for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the wireless communication device also to determine at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device includes at least one of:
 a single frame exchange between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   symmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   asymmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device;   frame length of at least one frame transmitted by the first other wireless communication device to the wireless communication device;   channel allocation of at least one communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; or   transmit power of at least one of the wireless communication device or the first other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the information within the first one or more frames for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the wireless communication device includes state of a predetermined at least one bit contained within the first one or more frames. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined at least one bit including at least one of a more data bit field, an acknowledgement indication bit field, or one media access control (MAC) header bit and two physical layer (PHY) header bits. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication device of  claim 12 , wherein state of the predetermined at least one bit indicating at least one of an additional frame to be transmitted, a last frame to be transmitted, a type of frame being transmitted, or reservation of a communication medium for some period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a wireless station (STA), wherein the first other wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), and the second other wireless communication device includes a smart meter station (SMSTA). 
 
     
     
         16 . A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 transmitting, via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, first one or more frames to a first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes information for interpretation by a second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device to determine when the first other wireless communication device is likely transmitting second one or more frames to the wireless communication device; and   receiving, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, the second one or more frames from the first other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 transmitting, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, the first one or more frames to the first other wireless communication device, wherein first one or more frames includes the information for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device also to determine at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device, wherein the at least one characteristic of communication between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device includes at least one of: 
 a single frame exchange between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; 
 symmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; 
 asymmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; 
 frame length of at least one frame transmitted by the first other wireless communication device to the wireless communication device; 
 channel allocation of at least one communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first other wireless communication device; or 
 transmit power of at least one of the wireless communication device or the first other wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the information within the first one or more frames for interpretation by the second other wireless communication device that is out of range of the first other wireless communication device includes state of a predetermined at least one bit contained within the first one or more frames. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined at least one bit including at least one of a more data bit field, an acknowledgement indication bit field, or one media access control (MAC) header bit and two physical layer (PHY) header bits. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein state of the predetermined at least one bit indicating at least one of an additional frame to be transmitted, a last frame to be transmitted, a type of frame being transmitted, or reservation of a communication medium for some period of time.