Range extension within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Abstract

Range extension within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A given communication device designed and implemented for operation in accordance with a given communication protocol, standard, and/or recommended practice operates in accordance with a down-clocked manner to effectuate operation in accordance with at least one other communication protocol, standard, and/or recommended practice. For example, first channelization may undergo down-clocking by a particular and desired ratio to generate a second channelization. As such, at least one portion of a physical layer (PHY) of a given communication device may be leveraged for use in at least one other or additional operational mode based upon the down-clocking employed. Sub-channel and/or channel adaptation may be made based upon any of a number of considerations (e.g., independently by one device, cooperatively by two or more devices, local and/or remote operating condition(s) [or changes thereof], etc.).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 process communications received from another wireless communication device to determine whether the another wireless communication device is operating based on a first communication protocol associated with a first clock signal or a second communication protocol associated with a second clock signal that is a down-clocked version of the first clock signal; 
 when it is determined that the another wireless communication device is operating based on the second communication protocol, receive a channel assignment from the another wireless communication device that specifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of time periods for use by a plurality of other wireless communication devices and process the channel assignment to determine if the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices; and 
 when it is determined that the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices specified within the channel assignment, support other communications with the another wireless communication device based on the channel assignment within at least one time period of the a plurality of time periods and based on the second communication protocol. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a down-clocking module configured to:
 down-clock the first clock signal using a down-clocking factor of 10 to generate the second clock signal; 
 down-clock a 20 mega-Hertz (MHz) clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 2 MHz clock signal; 
 down-clock a 40 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 4 MHz clock signal; and 
 down-clock a 80 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate an 8 MHz clock signal; and 
 
 a communication interface, coupled to the processor, that is configured to receive the communications from another wireless communication device and to operate based on the second communication protocol when clocked at the second clock signal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the channel assignment specifies at least one of multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) signaling or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling for the plurality of other wireless communication devices and further specifies:
 a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first channel bandwidth for use by the wireless communication device; and   a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second channel bandwidth that is different than the first channel bandwidth for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the channel assignment specifies:
 one channel of the plurality of channels for use by the wireless communication device during a first time period of the plurality of time periods; and   the one channel of the plurality of channels for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices during a second time period of the plurality of time periods.   
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit a frame to the another wireless communication device during a time period of the plurality of time periods specified for use by the wireless communication device in the channel assignment when supporting the other communications based on the second communication protocol.   
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a communication interface, coupled to the processor, that is configured to support communications within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system; and 
 the processor configured to receive the channel assignment from the another wireless communication device and to support the other communications with the another wireless communication device via the communication interface. 
 
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA), wherein the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP). 
 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an access point (AP), wherein the another wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA). 
 
     
     
         9 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 process communications received from another wireless communication device to determine whether the another wireless communication device is operating based on a first communication protocol associated with a first clock signal or a second communication protocol associated with a second clock signal that is a down-clocked version of the first clock signal based on a down-clocking factor of 10; 
 when it is determined that the another wireless communication device is operating based on the second communication protocol, receive a channel assignment from the another wireless communication device that specifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of time periods for use by a plurality of other wireless communication devices and process the channel assignment to determine if the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices; and 
 when it is determined that the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices specified within the channel assignment, transmit a frame to the another wireless communication device during a time period of the plurality of time periods specified for use by the wireless communication device in the channel assignment when supporting other communications based on the second communication protocol. 
   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a down-clocking module configured to:
 down-clock the first clock signal using a down-clocking factor of 10 to generate the second clock signal; 
 down-clock a 20 mega-Hertz (MHz) clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 2 MHz clock signal; 
 down-clock a 40 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 4 MHz clock signal; and 
 down-clock a 80 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate an 8 MHz clock signal; and 
 
 a communication interface, coupled to the processor, that is configured to receive the communications from another wireless communication device and to operate based on the second communication protocol when clocked at the second clock signal. 
 
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the channel assignment specifies at least one of multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) signaling or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling for the plurality of other wireless communication devices and further specifies:
 a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first channel bandwidth for use by the wireless communication device; and   a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second channel bandwidth that is different than the first channel bandwidth for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the channel assignment specifies:
 one channel of the plurality of channels for use by the wireless communication device during a first time period of the plurality of time periods; and   the one channel of the plurality of channels for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices during a second time period of the plurality of time periods.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA), wherein the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP). 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 processing communications received from another wireless communication device via a communication interface of the wireless communication device to determine whether the another wireless communication device is operating based on a first communication protocol associated with a first clock signal or a second communication protocol associated with a second clock signal that is a down-clocked version of the first clock signal;   when it is determined that the another wireless communication device is operating based on the second communication protocol, receiving a channel assignment from the another wireless communication device that specifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of time periods for use by a plurality of other wireless communication devices and process the channel assignment to determine if the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices; and   when it is determined that the wireless communication device is included in the plurality of other wireless communication devices specified within the channel assignment, supporting other communications with the another wireless communication device based on the channel assignment within at least one time period of the a plurality of time periods and based on the second communication protocol.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 down-clocking the first clock signal using a down-clocking factor of 10 to generate the second clock signal; 
 down-clocking a 20 mega-Hertz (MHz) clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 2 MHz clock signal; 
 down-clocking a 40 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate a 4 MHz clock signal; and 
 down-clocking a 80 MHz clock signal using the down-clocking factor of 10 to generate an 8 MHz clock signal; and 
 operating the communication interface of the wireless communication device based on the second communication protocol when clocked at the second clock signal. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the channel assignment specifies at least one of multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) signaling or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling for the plurality of other wireless communication devices and further specifies:
 a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first channel bandwidth for use by the wireless communication device; and   a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second channel bandwidth that is different than the first channel bandwidth for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the channel assignment specifies:
 one channel of the plurality of channels for use by the wireless communication device during a first time period of the plurality of time periods; and   the one channel of the plurality of channels for use by at least one other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices during a second time period of the plurality of time periods.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 transmitting, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, a frame to the another wireless communication device during a time period of the plurality of time periods specified for use by the wireless communication device in the channel assignment when supporting the other communications based on the second communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA), and the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 operating the communication interface of the wireless communication device to support communications within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.