WO2016089534A1 - High-efficiency (he) station, computer readable medium, and method for group resource allocation signaling in wireless local-area networks (wlans) - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods, stations, and computer readable media are disclosed for resource allocation. A high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) master station is disclosed. The HEW master station includes circuitry configured to assign each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group, and transmit a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations. The resource allocation may be one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation. The resource allocation may include a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations. A HEW station is disclosed. The HEW station may include circuitry configured to receive a group identification and a position within the group from a master station, and receive a resource allocation for a group of HEW stations.

Description

HIGH-EFFICIENCY (HE) STATION, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND METHOD FOR GROUP RESOURCE ALLOCATION SIGNALING IN WIRELESS LOCAL-AREA NETWORKS (WLANS)

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent

Application Serial No. 14/669,195, filed March 26, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/087,053, filed December 3, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Some embodiments relate to wireless local area networks

(WLANs) including networks operating in accordance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 1 family of standards, such as the IEEE 802.1 1 ac standard or the IEEE 802.1 1 ax standard. Some embodiments relate to high-efficiency (HE) wireless or high-efficiency WLAN (HEW) communications. Some embodiments relate to resource allocation signaling of multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resources and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resources.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Users of WLANs often demand faster data rates and quicker response times. In some situations, there may be many wireless users using the WLAN. Additionally, allocating the resources of the WLAN uses resources particularly for OFDMA communications and MU-MIMO communications. [0004] Therefore, there are general needs in the art to improve the signaling of resource allocations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network in accordance with some embodiments;

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a group definition for OFDMA tone allocations in accordance with some embodiments;

[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates group definitions for OFDMA tone allocations in accordance with some embodiments;

[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates group definitions for MU-MIMO tone allocations in accordance with some embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an OFDMA resource allocation signaling in accordance with some embodiments;

[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates an MU-MIMO resource allocation signaling in accordance with some embodiments;

[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates an MU-MIMO and OFDMA resource allocation signaling in accordance with some embodiments;

[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates a signaling method to enable MU-MIMO and

OFDMA using the grouping concept in HE-SIG-B, in accordance with some embodiments; and

[0014] FIG. 9 illustrates a HEW station in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network in accordance with some embodiments. The wireless local-area network (WLAN) may comprise a basis service set (BSS) 100 that may include a master station 102, which may be an access point (AP), a plurality of high-efficiency wireless (HEW) (e.g., IEEE 802.1 lax) stations 104 and a plurality of legacy (e.g., IEEE 802.1 ln/ac) devices 106.

[0017] The master station 102 may be an access point (AP) using the

802.1 1 to transmit and receive. The master station 102 may be a base station. The master station 102 may use other communications protocols as well as the 802.1 1 protocol. The 802.11 protocol may be 802.1 1 ax. The 802.1 1 protocol may include using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and/or code division multiple access (CDMA). The 802.1 1 protocol may include a multiple access technique. For example, the 802.1 1 protocol may include space-division multiple access (SDMA) and/or multi-user (MU) multiple-input and multiple-output

(MIMO)(MU-MIMO).

[0018] The HEW devices 104 may operate in accordance with 802.1 lax or another standard of 802.1 1. The legacy devices 106 may operate in accordance with one or more of 802.1 1 a/g/ag/n/ac, or another legacy wireless communication standard. The HEW devices 104 may be high efficiency (HE) stations. The legacy devices 106 may be stations.

[0019] The HEW devices 104 may be wireless transmit and receive devices such as cellular telephone, handheld wireless device, wireless glasses, wireless watch, wireless personal device, tablet, or another device that may be transmitting and receiving using the 802.1 1 protocol such as 802.1 lax or another wireless protocol.

[0020] The BSS 100 may operate on a primary channel and one or more secondary channels or sub-channels. A sub-channel may be a portion of a channel or bandwidth. A sub-channel may be a number of tones of a channel or bandwidth that may be used in accordance with OFDMA or MU-MIMO. The BSS 100 may include one or more APs 102. In accordance with embodiments, the master station 102 may communicate with one or more of the HEW devices 104 on one or more of the secondary channels or sub-channels or the primary channel. In example embodiments, the master station 102 communicates with the legacy devices 106 on the primary channel. In example embodiments, the master station 102 may be configured to communicate concurrently with one or more of the HEW devices 104 on one or more of the secondary channels and a legacy device 106 utilizing only the primary channel and not utilizing any of the secondary channels.

[0021] The master station 102 may communicate with legacy devices

106 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques. In example embodiments, the master station 102 may also be configured to communicate with HEW devices 104 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques. Legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques may refer to any IEEE 802.11 communication technique prior to IEEE 802.1 1 ax.

[0022] In some embodiments, a HEW frame may be configurable to have the same bandwidth and the bandwidth may be one of 20MHz, 40MHz, or 80MHz, 160MHz, 320MHz contiguous bandwidths or an 80+80MHz (160MHz) non-contiguous bandwidth. In some embodiments, bandwidths of 1 MHz,

1.25MHz, 2 MHz 2.5MHz, 4 MHz, 5MHz, 8 MHz, 10 MHz,and 16MHz, or a combination thereof, may also be used. In some embodiments, a different size bandwidth between 1 MHz and 320 MHz may be used. A HEW frame may be configured for transmitting a number of spatial streams.

[0023] In other embodiments, the master station 102, HEW device 104, and/or legacy device 106 may also implement different technologies such as CDMA2000, CDMA2000 IX, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS- 2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)),

BlueTooth®, or other technologies. [0024] In example embodiments, if the master station 102 transmits a beacon only on a primary channel, then the HEW devices 104 and legacy devices 106 need to receive the beacon on the primary channel every multiple of a beacon interval (it could be every beacon interval or every 10th beacon or etc.) to maintain their synchronization with the system (e.g. master station 102).

[0025] In an OFDMA system (e.g. 802.1 lax), an associated HEW device

104 may operate on a subchannel, which may be 20 MHz, of the BSS 100 (that can operate, for example, at 80MHz). The HEW device 104 may enter a power save mode, and upon coming out of power save mode, the HEW device 104 may need to re-synchronize with BSS 100 by receiving a beacon. If a beacon is transmitted only on the primary channel, then HEW device 104 needs to move and tune to the primary channel upon waking up to be able to receive beacons. Then the HEW device 104 needs to re-tune back to its operating subchannels, which may be 20 MHz, or it has to follow a handshake procedure to let master station 102 know of a new operating subchannel. The HEW device 104 may risk losing some frames during the channel switch, in example embodiments.

[0026] In example embodiments, the HEW device 104 and/or the master station 102 are configured to perform the functions described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-9 such as assigning HEW stations 104 to groups, generating resource allocations, transmitting resource allocations to HEW stations 104, and operating in accordance with the resource allocations.

[0027] Some embodiments relate to high-efficiency wireless communications including high-efficiency Wi-Fi/WLAN and high-efficiency wireless (HEW) communications. In accordance with some IEEE 802.1 lax (High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW)) embodiments, an master station 102 may operate as a master station which may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium (e.g., during a contention period) to receive exclusive control of the medium for an HEW control period (i.e., a transmission opportunity (TXOP)). The master station 102 may transmit an HEW master-sync transmission at the beginning of the HEW control period. The master station 102 may transmit a time duration of the TXOP. During the HEW control period, HEW devices 104 may communicate with the master station 102 in accordance with a non- contention based multiple access technique. This is unlike conventional WLAN communications in which devices communicate in accordance with a contention- based communication technique, rather than a multiple access technique. During the HEW control period, the master station 102 may communicate with HEW stations 104 using one or more HEW frames. During the HEW control period, legacy stations 106 refrain from communicating. In some embodiments, the master-sync transmission may be referred to as an HEW control and schedule transmission.

[0028] In some embodiments, the multiple-access technique used during the HEW control period may be a scheduled orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technique, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may be a time-division multiple access (TDMA) technique or a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technique. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may be a space-division multiple access (SDMA) technique.

[0029] The master station 102 may also communicate with legacy stations 106 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques. In some embodiments, the master station 102 may also be configurable to communicate with HEW stations 104 outside the HEW control period in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques, although this is not a requirement.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a group definition 200 for OFDMA tone allocations in accordance with some embodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a group definition 200 that includes an OFDMA group ID 204 and AID 0 206.0 through AID 8 206.8. An example number of bits 202 is illustrated under the fields. For example, the OFDMA group ID 204 may be 6 bits and each AID 206 may be 1 1 bits. The group definition of stations 200 may identify both the HEW stations 104 that are part of the OFDMA group ID 204 and define the position within the OFDMA group of the HEW station 104 according to the position of the AID 206. For example, the HEW station 104 with AID 2 206.2 may be the third member of the group identified by OFDMA group ID 204. The HEW master station 102 may assign the HEW stations 104 to groups with OFDMA group IDs 204. The AID 206 may be an identifier that identifies the HEW station 104 to the HEW master station 102.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates group definitions 300 for OFDMA tone allocations in accordance with some embodiments. Each group may include an OFDMA group ID 304 and two or more AIDs 306 that identify a HEW station 104. The OFDMA group ids 304 may have 8 bits enabling 64 different groups. As illustrated, OFDMA group ID 0 and OFDMA group ID 63 are not illustrated because these two groups may be used for signaling to individual HEW stations 104. For example, the HEW master station 102 may generate a packet with the OFDMA group ID 304.0 and an AID 306 may follow which identifies the HEW station 104 for which the packet is addressed.

[0032] In example embodiments, a different number of bits is used to represent the OFDMA group ID 304. In example embodiments, a different number of OFDMA groups may be used. For example, 32 or 126 OFDMA groups may be used. The AIDs 306 identify a HEW station 104. The AIDs 306 may be replicated so that a HEW station 104 may be a member of more than one group. The group definitions 300 may be stored and maintained at the HEW master station 102. The HEW stations 104 may store the OFDMA group IDs 304 that they belong to as well as the position they have within an OFDMA group.

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates group definitions 400 for MU-MIMO tone allocations, in accordance with some embodiments. Each group may include a MU-MIMO group ID 404 and two or more AIDs 406 that identify a HEW station 104. The MU-MIMO group ids 404 may have 8 bits enabling 64 different groups. As illustrated, MU-MIMO group ID 0 and MU-MIMO group ID 63 are not illustrated because these two groups may be used for signaling to individual HEW stations 104. For example, the HEW master station 102 may generate a packet with the MU-MIMO group ID 404.0 and an AID 406 may follow which identifies the HEW station 104 for which the packet is addressed.

[0034] In example embodiments, a different number of bits is used to represent the MU-MIMO group ID 404. In example embodiments, a different number of MU-MIMO groups may be used. For example, 32 or 126 MU- MIMO groups may be used. The number of HEW stations 104 that are a member of a group may be limited by the number of antennas at the HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104. The AIDs 406 identify a HEW station 104. The AIDs 406 may be replicated so that a HEW station 104 may be a member of more than one group. The group definitions 400 may be stored and maintained at the HEW master station 102. The HEW stations 104 may store the MU-MIMO group IDs 404 that they belong to as well as the position they have within an MU-MIMO group.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500, in accordance with some embodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 5 is an OFDMA group ID 504 field, nine resource size (RS) 506 fields, and an indication of the number of bits 502 that may be used for the fields. Each RS 506 field may indicate a resource size for the corresponding HEW station 104 in the same position in the group definition 300 as the position of the RS 506 field. For example, if the OFDMA group ID 504 is 1, then RS[1] 506.1 may be the second RS 506 field and the resource size for the HEW station 104 that is identified with the second AID 1 306.1 (FIG. 3) in the group definition 300. In this way the position of the RS 506 field within the OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500 indicates which position of the AID 306 within the group definition 300 the RS 506 field is for. For example, for OFDMA group ID 504 is equal to 1, RS[0] 506.0 corresponds to AID 0 306.0, RS[1] 506.1 corresponds to AID 1 306.1, etc.

[0036] The RS 506 may indicate a multiple of a basic resource unit. The basic resource unit may be, for example, 26 tones. The number of RS 506 fields may range from zero to a maximum value covering the final resource size in a 80 MHz channel.

2 52 tones

3 104 tones

4 208 tones (20 MHz)

or

242 tones (20 MHz)

5 484 tones (40 MHz)

6 968 tones (80 MHz)

7 1936 tones (160 MHz)

[0037] In example embodiments, the resource allocation may be made by the HEW master station 102 starting from the first sub-channel of a 20 MHz subchannel to sub-channels to the right extending to the bandwidth. The bandwidth may be, for example, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz. In example embodiments, the resource allocation may correspond to a sub-channel the resource allocation is transmitted on.

[0038] In an example, OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500, with

OFDMA group ID 1 504, RS[0]=0, RS[1]=2, RS[2]=2, RS[3]=0, RS[4]=2, RS[5]=2, RS[6]=1, RS[7]=5, and RS[8]=4. In this example, the HEW station 104 with AID 0 306.0 is allocated 0 tones, with AID 1 306.1 is allocated 52 tones, with AID 2 306.2 is allocated 52 tones, with AID 3 306.3 0 tones, with AID 4 306.4 52 tones, with AID 5 306.5 52 tones, with AID 6 306.6 26 tones, with AID 7 306.7 484 tones, and with AID 8 306.8 242 tones.

[0039] The OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500 may be part of a

High Efficiency (HE) signal (SIG)-B field of a physical (PHY) header.

[0040] The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to generate, transmit, receive, and operate in accordance with the OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500. The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to transmit and/or receive the OFDMA resource allocation signaling 500 on one or more sub-channels of the bandwidth.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates an MU-MIMO resource allocation signaling 600 in accordance with some embodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a MU-MIMO group ID 604 field, four number of spatial streams (NSTS) 606 fields, and an indication of the number of bits 602 that may be used for the fields. Each NSTS 606 field may indicate a resource size for the corresponding HEW station 104 in the same position in the group definition 400 as the position of the NSTS 606 field. For example, if the MU-MIMO group ID 604 is 1, then NSTS[1] 606.1 may be the second NSTS 606 field and the resource size for the HEW station 104 that is identified with the second AID 1 406.1 (FIG. 4) in the group definition 400. In this way the position of the NSTS 606 field within the MU- MIMO resource allocation signaling 600 indicates which position of the AID 406 within the group definition 400 the NSTS 606 field is for. The NSTS 606 fields may indicate a number of spatial streams assigned to the corresponding HEW station 104. For example, a value 0 may mean 0 spatial streams, a value of 1 may mean one spatial stream, a value of 2 may mean 2 spatial streams, and a value of 3 may mean 3 spatial streams.

[0042] The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to generate, transmit, receive, and operate in accordance with the MU-MIMO resource allocation signaling 600. The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to transmit and/or receive the MU- MIMO resource allocation signaling 600 on one or more sub-channels of the bandwidth.

[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates an MU-MIMO and OFDMA resource allocation signaling 700 in accordance with some embodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 7 is an indication of the number of bits 702 that may be used for the fields, a MU- MIMO / OFDMA 703 field, group ID 704 field, and then either RS 506 fields or NSTS 606 fields. The MU-MIMO / OFDMA 703 field indicates whether the resource allocation is for RSs 506 or NSTSs 606. In example embodiments, if MU-MIMO / OFDMA 703 field is set to 1, then it indicates an OFDMA resource allocation 500 and RS 506 fields will follow, and if MU-MIMO /OFDMA 703 field is set to 0, then it indicates an MU-MIMO resource allocation 600 and NSTS 606 fields will follow.

[0044] The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to generate, transmit, receive, and operate in accordance with the MU-MIMO and OFDMA resource allocation signaling 700. The HEW master station 102 and/or HEW station 104 may be configured to transmit and/or receive the MU-MIMO and OFDMA resource allocation signaling 700 on one or more sub-channels of the bandwidth.

[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates a method for resource allocation using groups

800 in accordance with some embodiments. The method 800 may begin at operation 802 with assigning each HEW station 104 to a group. For example, a HEW master station 102 may receive an association request from a HEW station 104 and assign the HEW station 104 to a group 300, 400 (FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively). The HEW station 104 may be assigned a position within the group so that an address of the HEW station 104 does not have to be transmitted with the resource allocation. In example embodiments, the HEW master station 102 may assign one or more HEW stations 104 to one or more groups.

[0046] The method 800 may continue at operation 804 with selecting a group to allocate resource to. For example, a master station 102 may select one of the groups 300, 400 to allocate resources to. The resource allocation may be for OFDMA or MU-MIMO.

[0047] The method 800 may continue at operation 806 with transmitting a resource allocation to the group. For example, the HEW master station 102 may generate a resource allocation such as is described in conjunction with FIGS. 5-7.

[0048] The method 800 may continue at operation 808 with transmitting data or receiving data in accordance with the resource allocation. For example, the HEW master station 102 may transmit data to the HEW stations 104 in accordance with the resource allocation in a downlink, or the HEW master station 102 may receive data in accordance with the resource allocation in an uplink transmit opportunity.

[0049] FIG. 9 illustrates a HEW station 900 in accordance with some embodiments. HEW station 900 may be an HEW compliant device that may be arranged to communicate with one or more other HEW stations, such as HEW stations 104 (FIG. 1) or master station 102 (FIG. 1) as well as communicate with legacy devices 106 (FIG. 1). The HEW station 900 may be a master station 102 or access point. HEW stations 104 and legacy devices 106 may also be referred to as HEW devices and legacy stations (STAs), respectively. HEW station 900 may be suitable for operating as access point 102 (FIG. 1) or an HEW station 104 (FIG. 1). In accordance with embodiments, HEW station 900 may include, among other things, a transmit/receive element 901 (for example, an antenna), a transceiver 902, physical layer (PHY) circuitry 904, and medium-access control layer circuitry (MAC) 906. PHY 904 and MAC 906 may be HEW compliant layers and may also be compliant with one or more legacy IEEE 802.1 1 standards. MAC 906 may be arranged to configure physical protocol data units (PPDUs) and arranged to transmit and receive PPDUs, among other things. HEW station 900 may also include other circuitry 908 and memory 910 configured to perform the various operations described herein. The circuitry 908 may be coupled to the transceiver 902, which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element 901. While FIG. 9 depicts the circuitry 908 and the transceiver 902 as separate components, the circuitry 908 and the transceiver 902 may be integrated together in an electronic package or chip.

[0050] In some embodiments, the MAC 906 may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium during a contention period to receive control of the medium for the HEW control period and configure an HEW PPDU. In some embodiments, the MAC 906 may be arranged to contend for the wireless medium based on channel contention settings, a transmitting power level, and a clear channel assessment (CCA) level.

[0051] The PHY 904 may be arranged to transmit the HEW PPDU. The

PHY 904 may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation, upconversion/ downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc. In some embodiments, the circuitry 908 may include one or more processors. The circuitry 908 may be configured to perform functions based on instructions being stored in a RAM or ROM, or based on special purpose circuitry. In some embodiments, the circuitry 908 may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 1-8 such as assigning HEW stations 104 to groups, generating resource allocations, transmitting resource allocations to HEW stations 104, and operating in accordance with the resource allocations. [0052] In some embodiments, two or more antennas 901 may be coupled to the PHY 904 and arranged for sending and receiving signals including transmission of the HEW packets. The HEW station 900 may include a transceiver 902 to transmit and receive data such as HEW PPDU and packets that include an indication that the HEW station 900 should adapt the channel contention settings according to settings included in the packet. The memory 910 may be store information for configuring the other circuitry 908 to perform operations for configuring and transmitting HEW packets and performing the various operations described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 1-8 such as assigning HEW stations 104 to groups, generating resource allocations, transmitting resource allocations to HEW stations 104, and operating in accordance with the resource allocations.

[0053] In some embodiments, the HEW station 900 may be configured to communicate using OFDM communication signals over a multicarrier communication channel. In some embodiments, HEW station 900 may be configured to communicate in accordance with one or more specific communication standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards including IEEE 802.1 1-2012, 802.1 ln-2009, 802.1 lac-2013, 802.11 ax, DensiFi, standards and/or proposed specifications for WLANs, or other standards as described in conjunction with FIG. 1 , although the scope of the disclosed embodiments is not limited in this respect as they may also be suitable to transmit and/or receive communications in accordance with other techniques and standards. In some embodiments, the HEW station 900 may use 4x symbol duration of 802.1 In or 802.1 1 ac.

[0054] In some embodiments, an HEW station 900 may be part of a portable wireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wireless headset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, an access point 102, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), a base station, a transmit/receive device for a wireless standard such as 802.1 1 or 802.16, or other device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly. In some embodiments, the mobile device may include one or more of a keyboard, a display, a non- volatile memory port, multiple antennas 901, a graphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobile device elements. The display may be an LCD screen including a touch screen.

[0055] The antennas 901 may comprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In some multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) embodiments, the antennas 901 may be effectively separated to take advantage of spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result.

[0056] Although the HEW station 900 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. For example, some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry 908 for performing at least the functions described herein. In some embodiments, the functional elements may refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements.

[0057] The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 is a high- efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) master station. The HEW master station may include circuitry configured to assign each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group and transmit a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations. The resource allocation may be one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation. The resource allocation may include a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields, one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations. The circuitry may be further configured to receive data from the plurality of HEW station in accordance with the resource allocation in a transmission opportunity.

[0058] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally include where the HEW master station is one from the following group: a HEW access point, a HEW station, and an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 lax access point.

[0059] In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1 and 2 can optionally include where the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation and where the MU-MIMO allocation comprises more than one allocation of a same channel simultaneously.

[0060] In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 can optionally include where each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the OFDMA resource allocation is one from the following group: three bits, four bits, and six bits.

[0061] In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 can optionally include where each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation is one from the following group: two bits, three bits, and four bits.

[0062] In Example 6, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 can optionally include where the resource size field for the OFDMA resource allocation indicates a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

[0063] In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 6 can optionally include where the number of tones is one of the following group: 26 tones, 242 tones, a multiple of 26 tones, and a multiple of 242 tones.

[0064] In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 can optionally include where the plurality of resource size fields indicate OFDMA resource allocations of contiguous sub-channels from a left side of a bandwidth to a right side of the bandwidth.

[0065] In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 7 can optionally include where the plurality of resource size fields indicate OFDMA resource allocations of non-contiguous sub-channels. [0066] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 6 can optionally include where each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation indicates a number of spatial streams assigned to a corresponding HEW station.

[0067] In Example 1 1, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 can optionally include where the circuitry is further configured to: assign each HEW station that associates with the HEW master station to at least one group of a plurality of groups.

[0068] In Example 12, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 can optionally include where one or more group identifications indicate the subchannel allocation is for a single HEW station.

[0069] In Example 13, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 can optionally include where the circuitry is further configured to: transmit data to the plurality of HEW stations in accordance with the resource allocation.

[0070] In Example 14, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 can optionally include memory coupled to circuitry.

[0071] In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 can optionally include one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

[0072] Example 16 is a method on a high-efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) master station. The method may include assigning each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group, and transmitting a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations. The resource allocation may be one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation. The resource allocation may include a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations.

[0073] In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 can optionally include where the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation.

[0074] In Example 18, the subject matter of Examples 16 or 17 can optionally include where the plurality of resource size fields for the OFDMA resource allocation indicates a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

[0075] In Example 19, the subject matter of Examples 16 or 17 can optionally include where the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation indicate a number of spatial streams assigned to a corresponding HEW station.

[0076] Example 20 is a high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) station. The HEW station may include circuitry configured to: receive a group identification and a position within the group from a master station, and receive a resource allocation for a group of HEW stations. The resource allocation is one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation. The resource allocation may include the group identification and a plurality of resource size fields, and one resource size field in the corresponding position may be for the HEW station.

[0077] In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 20 can optionally include where the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the sub-channel allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation. The one resource size field for the OFDMA resource allocation may indicate a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

[0078] In Example 22, the subject matter of Examples 20 or 21 can optionally include where the circuitry is further configured to: transmit data to the master station in accordance with the resource allocation indicated in the one resource size field.

[0079] In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 can optionally include memory coupled to circuitry, and one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

[0080] Example 24 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors to perform operations, the instructions to configure the one or more processors to cause a high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) master station to assign each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group, and transmit a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations. The resource allocation may be one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation. The resource allocation may include a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations.

[0081] In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 can optionally include where the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation.

[0082] The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section

1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) master station, the HEW master station comprising circuitry configured to:

assign each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group; transmit a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations, wherein the resource allocation is one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation, and wherein the resource allocation includes a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields, one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations; and

receive data from the plurality of HEW station in accordance with the resource allocation in a transmission opportunity.

2. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein the HEW master station is one from the following group: a HEW access point, a HEW station, and an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 lax access point.

3. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation, and wherein the MU-MIMO allocation comprises more than one allocation of a same channel simultaneously.

4. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the OFDMA resource allocation is one from the following group: three bits, four bits, and six bits.

5. The HEW master station of claim 4, wherein each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation is one from the following group: two bits, three bits, and four bits.

6. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein the resource size field for the OFDMA resource allocation indicates a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

7. The HEW master station of claim 6, wherein the number of tones is one of the following group: 26 tones, 242 tones, a multiple of 26 tones, and a multiple of 242 tones.

8. The HEW master station of claim 7, wherein the plurality of resource size fields indicate OFDMA resource allocations of contiguous sub- channels from a left side of a bandwidth to a right side of the bandwidth.

9. The HEW master station of claim 7, wherein the plurality of resource size fields indicate OFDMA resource allocations of non-contiguous sub-channels.

10. The HEW master station of claim 6, wherein each of the resource size fields of the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation indicates a number of spatial streams assigned to a corresponding HEW station.

1 1. The HEW master station of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

assign each HEW station that associates with the HEW master station to at least one group of a plurality of groups.

12. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein one or more group identifications indicate the sub-channel allocation is for a single HEW station.

13. The HEW master station of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

transmit data to the plurality of HEW stations in accordance with the resource allocation.

14. The HEW master device of claim 1, further comprising memory coupled to circuitry.

15. The HE master device of claim 14, further comprising one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

16. A method on a high- efficiency wireless local-area network (HEW) master station, the method comprising:

assigning each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group; and transmitting a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations, wherein the resource allocation is one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation, and wherein the resource allocation includes a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of resource size fields for the OFDMA resource allocation indicates a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of resource size fields for the MU-MIMO resource allocation indicate a number of spatial streams assigned to a corresponding HEW station.

20. A high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) station, the HEW station comprising circuitry configured to:

receive a group identification and a position within the group from a master station; and

receive a resource allocation for a group of HEW stations, wherein the resource allocation is one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple- output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation, and wherein the resource allocation includes the group identification and a plurality of resource size fields, wherein one resource size field in the corresponding position is for the HEW station.

21. The HEW station of claim 20, wherein the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the sub-channel allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation, and wherein the one resource size field for the OFDMA resource allocation indicates a number of tones for a corresponding HEW station.

22. The HEW station of claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

transmit data to the master station in accordance with the resource allocation indicated in the one resource size field.

23. The HEW station of claim 20, further comprising memory coupled to circuitry, and one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors to perform operations, the instructions to configure the one or more processors to cause a high-efficiency wireless local-area (HEW) master station to:

assign each of a plurality of HEW stations to a group; and

transmit a resource allocation for the group of HEW stations, wherein the resource allocation is one of the following: an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource allocation or a multiple-input multiple- output (MU-MIMO) resource allocation, and wherein the resource allocation includes a group identification that identifies the group of HEW stations and a plurality of resource size fields one for each corresponding HEW station of the plurality of HEW stations.

25. The non-transitory computer- readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the resource allocation includes a field that indicates whether the resource allocation is the OFDMA allocation or the MU-MIMO allocation.