Tone plan for wireless communication

This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems that support communicating using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) according to a tone plan that supports 20 MHz subchannel puncturing within a wireless channel. In some aspects, a non-legacy tone plan may define a set of tones for a resource unit (RU) such that the RU does not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel. The locations of the set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan may be shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan. One or more of the disclosed tone plans may enable puncturing of subchannels while making use of some RUs that would otherwise partially overlap a punctured subchannel in the legacy tone plan.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically, to tone plans usable for punctured wireless communications.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

A wireless communication medium may be referred to as a wireless channel. A wireless channel having a larger bandwidth may span a frequency range that was previously defined by multiple subchannels of smaller bandwidth. Some WLAN devices may share a wireless channel using a division based on the subchannels. More recent techniques for sharing a wireless channel can be based on a combination of frequency-based and time-based allocations. For example, different users (or groups of users) may be assigned to different resource units (RUs) that represent subcarriers within a tone plan for a wireless channel. RUs may be assigned to users for a single user (SU) transmission or for a multi-user (MU) transmission. The available frequency spectrum of the wireless channel may be divided into multiple RUs that can be allocated to different STAs or groups of STAs.

SUMMARY

One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by a wireless access point. In some implementations, the method may include allocating at least a first resource unit (RU) associated with a wireless channel to include data for a first wireless station. The method may include transmitting the data for the first wireless station via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan. The locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan may be shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by a wireless station. In some implementations, the method may include receiving, from a wireless access point, an indication of an allocation of at least a first RU of a wireless channel allocated for the wireless station to transmit data. The method may include transmitting the data to the wireless access point via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan. The locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan may be shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects generally relate to tone plans for wireless communication. Some aspects more specifically relate to tone plans that define the locations of data tones for various resource units (RUs) within a wireless channel based on 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel. A tone plan indicates sets of tones (also referred to as subcarriers or frequencies) that are combined to form RUs of various bandwidth sizes. In some aspects, the described tone plans are designed such that no RUs overlap any 20 MHz subchannel boundaries, which are located at fixed frequencies within the wireless channel. Some aspects of the described tone plans may enable puncturing of 20 MHz subchannels while making use of some RUs that would otherwise partially overlap the punctured subchannels. In various examples, the tone plans may be designed for a wireless channel having an 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz or 320 MHz total bandwidth. Some examples of the described tone plans may be based on one or more modifications or adjustments to a legacy tone plan that includes some RUs that partially overlap 20 MHz subchannel bandwidth boundaries. According to some aspects, particular RUs in the disclosed tone plans are adjusted or shifted relative to the corresponding RUs in the legacy tone plans such that the RUs in the new tone plans do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries while maintaining a same quantity of data tones as in the legacy tone plan. In some examples, a technical specification may define the described tone plans or may define modifications or adjustments that may be made dynamically to the legacy tone plans to support 20 MHz subchannel puncturing.

Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. Some implementations enable an increase in efficiency, an increase in throughput or a reduction in latency by enabling the allocation of RUs that would otherwise interfere with signals of an incumbent system utilizing frequencies within a punctured subchannel, or that would not be allocated at all due to their overlap with the punctured subchannel. Thus, the tone plans described herein may improve performance of the wireless channel. Furthermore, because at least some of the tone plans described herein provide an equivalent number of tones as compared to corresponding RUs in a legacy tone plan, the disclosed tone plans can be implemented without reducing the amount of data that may be carried by the RUs.

FIG.1shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication network100. According to some aspects, the wireless communication network100can be an example of a wireless local area network (WLAN) such as a Wi-Fi network (and will hereinafter be referred to as WLAN100). For example, the WLAN100can be a network implementing at least one of the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (such as that defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or amendments thereof including, but not limited to, 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba and 802.11be). The WLAN100may include numerous wireless communication devices such as an access point (AP)102and multiple stations (STAs)104. While only one AP102is shown, the WLAN network100also can include multiple APs102.

A single AP102and an associated set of STAs104may be referred to as a basic service set (BSS), which is managed by the respective AP102.FIG.1additionally shows an example coverage area108of the AP102, which may represent a basic service area (BSA) of the WLAN100. The BSS may be identified to users by a service set identifier (SSID), as well as to other devices by a basic service set identifier (BSSID), which may be a medium access control (MAC) address of the AP102. The AP102periodically broadcasts beacon frames (“beacons”) including the BSSID to enable any STAs104within wireless range of the AP102to “associate” or re-associate with the AP102to establish or maintain a respective communication link106(hereinafter also referred to as a “Wi-Fi link”), or to maintain a communication link106, with the AP102. For example, the beacons can include an identification of a primary channel used by the respective AP102as well as a timing synchronization function for establishing or maintaining timing synchronization with the AP102. The AP102may provide access to external networks to various STAs104in the WLAN via respective communication links106.

To establish a Wi-Fi link106with an AP102, each of the STAs104is configured to perform passive or active scanning operations (“scans”) on frequency channels in one or more frequency bands (for example, the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz or 60 GHz bands). To perform passive scanning, a STA104listens for beacons, which are transmitted by respective APs102at a periodic time interval referred to as the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) (measured in time units (TUs) where one TU is equal to 1024 microseconds (μs)). To perform active scanning, a STA104generates and sequentially transmits probe requests on each channel to be scanned and listens for probe responses from APs102. Each STA104may be configured to identify or select an AP102with which to associate based on the scanning information obtained through the passive or active scans, and to perform authentication and association operations to establish a Wi-Fi link106with the selected AP102. The AP102assigns an association identifier (AID) to the STA104at the culmination of the association operations, which the AP102uses to track the STA104.

As a result of the increasing ubiquity of wireless networks, a STA104may have the opportunity to select one of many BSSs within range of the STA or select among multiple APs102that together form an extended service set (ESS) including multiple connected BSSs. An extended network station associated with the WLAN100may be connected to a wired or wireless distribution system that may enable multiple APs102to be connected in such an ESS. As such, a STA104can be covered by more than one AP102and can associate with different APs102at different times for different transmissions. Additionally, after association with an AP102, a STA104also may be configured to periodically scan its surroundings to find a more suitable AP102with which to associate. For example, a STA104that is moving relative to its associated AP102may perform a “roaming” scan to find another AP102having more desirable network characteristics such as a greater received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or a reduced traffic load.

In some cases, STAs104may form networks without APs102or other equipment other than the STAs104themselves. One example of such a network is an ad hoc network (or wireless ad hoc network). Ad hoc networks may alternatively be referred to as mesh networks or peer-to-peer (P2P) connections. In some cases, ad hoc networks may be implemented within a larger wireless network such as the WLAN100. In such implementations, while the STAs104may be capable of communicating with each other through the AP102using communication links106, STAs104also can communicate directly with each other via direct wireless links110. Additionally, two STAs104may communicate via a direct communication link110regardless of whether both STAs104are associated with and served by the same AP102. In such an ad hoc system, one or more of the STAs104may assume the role filled by the AP102in a BSS. Such a STA104may be referred to as a group owner (GO) and may coordinate transmissions within the ad hoc network. Examples of direct wireless links110include Wi-Fi Direct connections, connections established by using a Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) link, and other P2P group connections.

The APs102and STAs104may function and communicate (via the respective Wi-Fi links106) according to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (such as that defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or amendments thereof including, but not limited to, 802.11ah, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba and 802.11be (which also may be referred to as Extremely High Throughput (EHT))). These standards define the WLAN radio and baseband protocols for the PHY and medium access control (MAC) layers. The APs102and STAs104transmit and receive wireless communications (hereinafter also referred to as “Wi-Fi communications”) to and from one another in the form of physical layer (PHY) protocol data units (PPDUs). The APs102and STAs104in the WLAN100may transmit PPDUs over an unlicensed spectrum, which may be a portion of spectrum that includes frequency bands traditionally used by Wi-Fi technology, such as the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, the 60 GHz band, the 3.6 GHz band, and the 900 MHz band. Some implementations of the APs102and STAs104described herein also may communicate in other frequency bands, such as the 6 GHz band, which may support both licensed and unlicensed communications. The APs102and STAs104also can be configured to communicate over other frequency bands such as shared licensed frequency bands, where multiple operators may have a license to operate in the same or overlapping frequency band or bands.

Some APs and STAs support beamforming. Beamforming refers to the focusing of the energy of a transmission in the direction of a target receiver. Beamforming may be used both in a single user context, for example, to improve a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), as well as in a multi-user (MU) context, for example, to enable MU multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions. To perform beamforming, a transmitter, referred to as the beamformer, transmits a signal from multiple antenna elements of an antenna array. The beamformer configures the phase shifts between the signals transmitted from the different antenna elements such that the signals add constructively along particular directions towards the intended receivers, which are referred to as beamformees. The manner in which the beamformer configures the phase shifts depends on channel state information associated with the wireless channels over which the beamformer intends to communicate with the beamformees. To obtain the channel state information, the beamformer may perform a channel sounding procedure with the beamformees. For example, the beamformer may transmit one or more sounding packets to the beamformees. The beamformees may then perform measurements of the channel based on the sounding packets and subsequently provide feedback to the beamformer based on the measurements, for example, in the form of a feedback matrix. The beamformer may then then generate a steering matrix for each of the beamformees based on the feedback and use the steering matrix to configure the phase shifts for subsequent transmissions to the beamformees.

Each of the frequency bands may include multiple sub-bands or frequency channels. For example, PPDUs conforming to the IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax standard amendments may be transmitted over the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, each of which is divided into multiple 20 MHz bandwidth channels. As such, these PPDUs are transmitted over a physical channel having a minimum bandwidth of 20 MHz. But larger channels can be formed through channel bonding. For example, PPDUs conforming to the IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax standard amendments may be transmitted over physical channels having bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz by bonding together two or more 20 MHz bandwidth channels. Newer technologies may support the use of wide bandwidth channels, for example, physical channels having bandwidths of 240 MHz, 320 MHz or greater.

Each PPDU is a composite structure that includes a PHY preamble and a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) service data unit (PSDU). The information provided in the preamble may be used by a receiving device to decode the subsequent data in the PSDU. A legacy portion of the preamble may include a legacy short training field (STF) (L-STF), a legacy long training field (LTF) (L-LTF), and a legacy signaling field (L-SIG). The legacy preamble may be used for packet detection, automatic gain control and channel estimation, among other uses. The legacy preamble also may be used to maintain compatibility with legacy devices. In instances in which PPDUs are transmitted over a bonded channel, the L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the multiple component channels. For example, in IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac or 802.11ax implementations, the L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the component 20 MHz bandwidth channels. The format of, coding of, and information provided in the non-legacy portion of the preamble is based on the particular IEEE 802.11 protocol.

In some implementations, APs102and STAs104can support multi-user (MU) transmissions; that is, concurrent transmissions from one device to each of multiple devices (for example, multiple simultaneous downlink (DL) communications from an AP102to corresponding STAs104), or concurrent transmissions from multiple devices to a single device (for example, multiple simultaneous uplink (UP) transmissions from corresponding STAs104to an AP102). To support the MU transmissions, the APs102and STAs104may utilize multi-user orthogonal frequency division multiple access (MU-OFDMA) and multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) techniques. OFDMA is a communication technology that uses RUs to allocate different resources within the full channel bandwidth to one or more users (or groups of users). OFDMA may be used for MU communication or single user (SU) communication.

Using OFDMA, the available frequency spectrum of the wireless channel may be divided into multiple RUs. Each RU may include a number of different frequency subcarriers (“tones”). A tone plan may specify sets of tones that are associated with each potential RU in the wireless channel. Different RUs may be allocated or assigned by an AP102to different STAs104at particular times. The sizes and distributions of the RUs allocated to each STA104may be referred to as an RU allocation. In addition to specifying the tones associated with corresponding RUs, the tone plan also may define unused subcarriers (such as a guard band, DC subcarriers or null subcarriers) that may separate some RUs. For example, the null subcarriers may separate some RUs to reduce interference between adjacent RUs, to reduce receiver DC offset, or to avoid transmit center frequency leakage. The tone plan also may define how many RUs can be accommodated within a total channel bandwidth. For example, four 242-tone RUs (which also may be referred to as RU242s) may be defined within a tone plan for an 80 MHz channel bandwidth.

The RUs defined within a legacy tone plan may overlap subchannel boundaries within a wireless channel. Using the example of an 80 MHz channel bandwidth, there may be four adjacent 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels. As previously described, the legacy tone plan for an 80 MHz channel bandwidth may define some RUs that overlap a 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel boundary. In instances in which it is desired to puncture one or more of the 20 MHz subchannels, the use of those overlapping RUs may cause interference. Some legacy systems may limit the use of such overlapping RUs or may restrict the sizes of such RUs. As a result, systems that use a legacy tone plan may be inefficient or inadequate for 20 MHz subchannel puncturing.

FIG.2shows an example wide bandwidth channel. A frequency band (such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz frequency band) may define multiple channels and subchannels (also referred to herein simply as “channels”). Each subchannel may have a uniform bandwidth (such as 20 MHz). As described above, some WLAN devices are capable of transmitting at larger bandwidths by concurrently using multiple subchannels (referred to as “channel bonding”). In the example ofFIG.2, a wide bandwidth channel200has a 320 MHz total bandwidth resulting from the bonding or aggregation of sixteen smaller 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels including a first subchannel215, a second subchannel225, a third subchannel235and a fourth subchannel245.

The 320 MHz wide bandwidth channel200may be segmented to define primary and secondary channels. For example, the first subchannel215may be a primary 20 MHz bandwidth channel and the second subchannel225may be a secondary 20 MHz bandwidth channel. Together, the first subchannel215and the second subchannel225may form a primary 40 MHz bandwidth channel. The third subchannel235and the fourth subchannel245may be 20 MHz bandwidth channels. Together, the third subchannel235and the fourth subchannel245may form a secondary 40 MHz bandwidth channel. The secondary 40 MHz bandwidth channel is “secondary” in relation to the primary 40 MHz bandwidth channel formed by the first subchannel215and the second subchannel225. In a similar way, a first set of four subchannels, consisting of all four of the first subchannel215, the second subchannel225, the third subchannel235and the fourth subchannel245, may form a primary 80 MHz bandwidth channel and a second set of four different subchannels may form a secondary 80 MHz bandwidth channel. In some implementations, a tertiary 80 MHz bandwidth channel may be defined from a third set of four different subchannels and a quaternary 80 MHz bandwidth channel may be defined from a fourth set of four different subchannels. It is expected that wide bandwidth channels of 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, or 320 MHz total bandwidth may be based on different quantities of 80 MHz portions. Within each 80 MHz portion, different 20 MHz subchannels may be punctured.

FIG.3shows a conceptual diagram illustrating resource assignments within a wireless channel. A resource assignment also may be referred to as an RU allocation. A tone plan may define the possible RU sizes and locations for a wireless channel. Each RU may be formed by a set of tones. The tones are conceptually depicted inFIG.3as subcarriers, such as a first subcarrier310. RUs may be allocated in 2 MHz intervals, and as such, the smallest RU includes 26 tones consisting of 24 data tones and 2 pilot tones. As such, in a 20 MHz bandwidth channel, up to 9 RUs (such as 2 MHz, 26-tone RUs) may be allocated (because some tones are reserved for other purposes). Similarly, in a 160 MHz bandwidth channel, up to 74 RUs may be allocated to various STAs. Larger 52-tone, 106-tone, 242-tone, 484-tone, and 996-tone RUs also may be allocated. As described above, adjacent RUs may be separated by one or more null subcarriers (not shown), for example, to reduce interference between adjacent RUs, to reduce receiver DC offset, and to avoid transmit center frequency leakage.

For multi-user OFDMA transmissions, an AP may allocate multiple RUs for respective STAs. The RUs may be allocated for downlink traffic (from an AP to various STAs) or may be allocated for uplink traffic (from various STAs to the AP). As shown inFIG.3, the different shadings indicate different RUs of PPDU that may be transmitted to (or allocated for the use by) different STAs. For example, a PPDU330may include different RUs allocated for a first STA, a second STA, a third STA, and a fourth STA. In one aspect, the PPDU330may be a downlink PPDU, and the PPDU330may include one RU340allocated for a STA to receive data, while other RUs are allocated for other STAs to receive other data. In another aspect, the PPDU330may be an uplink PPDU. An AP may send a scheduling PPDU (not shown) prior to the PPDU330and indicating which RUs are allocated to the various STAs to transmit their respective uplink data.

FIG.4shows a conceptual diagram illustrating a punctured transmission400in a 320 MHz bandwidth channel. Puncturing may be used to enable a WLAN to utilize a larger bandwidth wireless channel by avoiding communicating (or transmitting energy) on tones with one or more subchannels on which incumbent systems are operating. For example, within an 80 MHz channel bandwidth, one or more of the 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels may be punctured to prevent communication on those subchannels. The 320 MHz bandwidth channel may include a primary 80 MHz channel, a secondary 80 MHz channel, a tertiary 80 MHz channel and a quaternary 80 MHz channel, as described with reference toFIG.2. InFIG.4, the primary 80 MHz portion is illustrated with its respective 20 MHz subchannels (a first subchannel415, a second subchannel425, a third subchannel435, and a fourth subchannel445). The secondary 80 MHz channel, the tertiary 80 MHz channel and the quaternary 80 MHz channel illustrated with a smaller scale inFIG.4for purposes of conciseness.

In the example scenario depicted inFIG.4, there may be an incumbent system transmission that occupies all or part of the 20 MHz bandwidth associated with the fourth subchannel445. Therefore, a wireless communication device (such as an AP or a STA) in the WLAN may puncture a PPDU on the wireless channel to exclude the fourth subchannel445from the transmission. The PPDU may include transmitted energy on tones of the first sub channel415, the second subchannel425, and the third subchannel435, as well as the other unpunctured subchannels in the secondary 80 MHz channel, the tertiary 80 MHz channel and the quaternary 80 MHz channel, while not transmitting data on tones within the punctured fourth subchannel445.

The transmission400may include a preamble portion405followed by RUs410that are allocated to respective STAs. In the illustrated example, the transmission400is a downlink OFDMA transmission that includes data for multiple recipient STAs in their respective allocated RUs. In another example, an uplink OFDMA transmission may include uplink data from various STAs in respective RUs allocated by the AP. In some implementations, each 80 MHz portion of the wireless channel may have a different puncturing configuration. Signaling in the preamble portion405may indicate which subchannels are punctured (such as the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445) as well as the RU allocations410that are assigned to the different STAs. An AP may allocate a various RUs450that are located entirely within the third 20 MHz subchannel435. However, some RUs according to a legacy tone plan may include tones that are located in both the third 20 MHz subchannel435and the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445. Thus, when limited to the legacy tone plan, the AP may refrain from allocating any RUs that have tones within the 20 MHz bandwidth associated with the punctured fourth 20 MHz subchannel445since the use of those RUs may cause interference with other systems using the punctured fourth 20 MHz subchannel445.

FIG.5shows an example legacy tone plan500in which some RUs overlap subchannel boundaries in an 80 MHz wireless channel. The example legacy tone plan500is defined for an 80 MHz channel bandwidth that includes four 20 MHz subchannels. As described above, some tone plans (such as the legacy tone plan500) may define RUs that overlap the boundaries of the 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels. The example legacy tone plan500may define edge tones (not shown) and DC tones.FIG.5shows each potential RU in the 80 MHz channel as well as some null tones (shown with dotted lines) between the potential RUs.

As described above, the legacy tone plan500may define RUs of various sizes. As shown inFIG.5, a total of 996 usable tones are available when the full 80 MHz bandwidth (BW) is allocated as a single RU.FIG.5also shows example 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, 242-tone, and 484-tone RUs that may be available to allocate to different users.

FIG.5also shows the physical 20 MHz subchannels and boundaries overlaid on the example legacy tone plan500to illustrate some examples where potential RU allocations overlap or cross 20 MHz subchannel boundaries. For example, according to the legacy tone plan500, the 2nd 242-tone RU571includes some tones581that located on the other side of a boundary580between the first 20 MHz subchannel415and the second 20 MHz subchannel425. Similarly, the 3rd 242-tone RU572includes some tones591that are located on the other side of a boundary590between the third 20 MHz subchannel435and the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445. The 2nd 242-tone RU571and the 3rd 242-tone RU572are just two examples in which the legacy tone plan500defines RUs that cross a 20 MHz subchannel boundary. The RUs that overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary are highlighted with grey shading for reference. Other RUs that overlap a subchannel boundary include, for the first 20 MHz subchannel415, the 10th 26-tone RU, the 5th 52-tone RU, and the 3rd 106-tone RU, and, for the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445, the 28th 26-tone RU, the 12th 52-tone RU and the 6th 106-tone RU. Each of these RUs may have different numbers of tones that cross the respective 20 MHz boundaries.

FIG.6Ashows the 242-tone RUs501from the example legacy tone plan ofFIG.5. There are 2 data tones581of the second 242-tone RU571that exist across a subchannel boundary580. Thus, when the first 20 MHz subchannel415is punctured, the current options in view of the legacy tone plan would include either not allocating the second 242-tone RU571to a user to prevent interference within the first 20 MHz subchannel415, or allocating the second 242-tone RU571and potentially creating interference within the first 20 MHz subchannel415. Neither of the current options are desirable. Similar to the second 242-tone RU571, the third 242-tone RU572in the legacy tone plan includes three data tones591that exist across a subchannel boundary590. Thus, a similar problem is faced when the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445is punctured.

To enable the possibility of puncturing any of the 20 MHz subchannels, this disclosure presents various aspects associated with a new tone plan that defines RUs and their associated tone locations such that no tones of any of the RUs would exist in a punctured subchannel. In some aspects, a legacy tone plan may be modified or adjusted to generate the new tone plan such that the RUs do not overlap the 20 MHz subchannel boundaries. In some examples, the new tone plan is to be defined in a technical specification (such as an amendment to an IEEE 802.11 specification) such that the new tone plan may be used for any and all transmissions that implement the technical specification. In some other examples, the legacy tone plan may be modified or adjusted dynamically when needed based on puncturing. This disclosure provides various techniques for modifying a legacy tone plan such that RUs do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary while maintaining an equivalent number of data tones for the RU that was present in the legacy tone plan.

FIG.6Bshows an example of tone shifting601for 242-tone RUs according to some implementations. The second 242-tone RU is shifted650to avoid the subchannel boundary580. For example, all the tones of the second 242-tone RU may be moved to the right leaving null tones where the second 242-tone RU previously crossed the subchannel boundary580. The center RU26 (shown as two 13-tone portions inFIG.5) may be eliminated or reduced to make room for the shifted second 242-tone RU. The tone shifting601may be described as the omission of the tones581that cross the subchannel boundary580and addition of new data tones612toward the center of the 80 MHz tone plan. The third 242-tone RU is shifted660to the left leaving null tones where the second 242-tone RU previously crossed the subchannel boundary590. The quantity of tones that are shifted (such as 5 tones) is sufficient to avoid the respective subchannel boundaries when those RUs are allocated to a user. In some implementations, the tone shifting601may result in a new tone plan that is used regardless of whether the adjacent subchannel (such as the first 20 MHz subchannel415or the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445) is punctured and regardless of whether the RU (such as the second 242-tone RU or the third 242-tone RU) is allocated.

FIG.6Cshows an example of pilot tone replacement602for 242-tone RUs according to some implementations. The edge tones581of the second 242-tone RU that previously crossed the subchannel boundary580may be omitted from the second 242-tone RU. Each 242-tone RU typically includes 234 data tones and 8 pilot tones (some of which are illustrated as pilot tones614). The pilot tones are used for phase information, alignment, or signaling, among other examples. In some implementations, a quantity of pilot tones614located within the second 242-tone RU may be changed from pilot tones to data tones so that the second 242-tone RU can include a same amount of data previously associated with the second 242-tone RU according to the legacy tone plan. The quantity of pilot tones614that are changed to become replacement data tones is sufficient to replace the omitted edge tones581. For example, 4 edge tones581may be omitted and 4 pilot tones614may be redefined as data tones. That would leave4remaining pilot tones (out of the original 8 pilot tones). In some implementations, the pilot tone replacement technique described with reference toFIG.6Ccan be used without eliminating the center 26-tone RU (shown as two 13-tone portions inFIGS.5,6A and6C).

The examples shown and described with reference toFIGS.6B and6Care didactic in nature and merely illustrate some of many examples that may be supported by aspects of this disclosure. For example, the concepts described with reference to 242-tone RUs also may be applied to other sizes of RUs, such as the grey-shaded RUs illustrated and described with reference toFIG.5.

FIG.7shows an example new tone plan700in which RUs are defined to avoid subchannel boundaries in an 80 MHz wireless channel. In the new tone plan700, the grey-shaded RUs described with reference to the legacy tone plan500ofFIG.5are shifted750to avoid subchannel boundaries. Some RUs are shifted to the right to avoid the subchannel boundary580of the first 20 MHz subchannel415. Some other RUs are shifted to the left to avoid the subchannel boundary590of the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445. The shifted RUs are illustrated with bold lines inFIG.7.

The center 26-tone RU (shown as two 13-tone portions inFIG.5) may be eliminated to make room for the shifted RUs. InFIG.7, the shifted RUs are shifting by 5 tones leaving null tones721and tones731(shown in dotted lines) at the subchannel boundaries.

In some implementations, as shown inFIG.7, a 484-tone RU may be split such that half of the 484-tone RU is shifted leaving null tones at or near the 20 MHz subchannel boundary. Half of the first 484-tone RU that overlaps the second 20 MHz subchannel425is shifted to the right and 5 null tones are placed at the subchannel boundary. Similarly, half of the second 484-tone RU in the third 20 MHz subchannel435are shifted to the left and 5 null tones are placed at the boundary between the third 20 MHz subchannel435and the fourth 20 MHz subchannel445. Both of those 484-tone RUs have the same quantity of tones as corresponding RUs in a legacy tone plan. One reason the 484-tone RUs may be split as shown inFIG.7is so that the 484-tone RUs match the locations of tones for the 242-tone RUs.

While the new tone plan700describes an 80 MHz wireless channel bandwidth, the same technique may be used to determine new tone plans for wireless channels having greater bandwidth. For example, a new tone plan for 160 MHz, 240 MHz or 320 MHz channels may be based on a replication or expansion of the new tone plan700. The new tone plan700also may be referred to as a non-legacy tone plan to distinguish from a legacy tone plan. The non-legacy tone plan may be specified in IEEE 802.11be (which also may be referred to as Extremely High Throughput (EHT))) and those systems that implement EHT communication. The legacy tone plan may refer to one that is specified in IEEE 802.11ax (or earlier generations of the IEEE 802.11 family of standards).

An RU allocation table may include different values associated with the RUs that an AP can allocate. In some implementations, a first set of values in the RU allocation table may indicate RUs defined is according to a new tone plan. A second set of values in the RU allocation table may indicate RUs defined according to a legacy tone plan. A first value may indicate a 242-tone RU according to the legacy tone plan (such as described with reference toFIG.7). A second value may indicate the 242-tone RU according to a non-legacy tone plan (such as described with reference toFIG.7).

FIG.8shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device800. In some implementations, the wireless communication device800can be an example of a device for use in a STA such as one of the STAs104described above with reference toFIG.1. In some implementations, the wireless communication device800can be an example of a device for use in an AP such as the AP102described above with reference toFIG.1. The wireless communication device800is capable of transmitting (or outputting for transmission) and receiving wireless communications (for example, in the form of wireless packets). For example, the wireless communication device can be configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDUs) and medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) conforming to an IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard, such as that defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or amendments thereof including, but not limited to, 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11 ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba and 802.11be.

The wireless communication device800can be, or can include, a chip, system on chip (SoC), chipset, package or device that includes one or more modems802, for example, a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 compliant) modem. In some implementations, the one or more modems802(collectively “the modem802”) additionally include a WWAN modem (for example, a 3GPP 4G LTE or 5G compliant modem). In some implementations, the wireless communication device800also includes one or more radios804(collectively “the radio804”). In some implementations, the wireless communication device800further includes one or more processors, processing blocks or processing elements806(collectively “the processor806”) and one or more memory blocks or elements808(collectively “the memory808”).

The modem802can include an intelligent hardware block or device such as, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) among other possibilities. The modem802is generally configured to implement a PHY layer. For example, the modem802is configured to modulate packets and to output the modulated packets to the radio804for transmission over the wireless medium. The modem802is similarly configured to obtain modulated packets received by the radio804and to demodulate the packets to provide demodulated packets. In addition to a modulator and a demodulator, the modem802may further include digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry, automatic gain control (AGC), a coder, a decoder, a multiplexer and a demultiplexer. For example, while in a transmission mode, data obtained from the processor806is provided to a coder, which encodes the data to provide encoded bits. The encoded bits are then mapped to points in a modulation constellation (using a selected MCS) to provide modulated symbols. The modulated symbols may then be mapped to a number NSS of spatial streams or a number NSTS of space-time streams. The modulated symbols in the respective spatial or space-time streams may then be multiplexed, transformed via an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) block, and subsequently provided to the DSP circuitry for Tx windowing and filtering. The digital signals may then be provided to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The resultant analog signals may then be provided to a frequency upconverter, and ultimately, the radio804. In implementations involving beamforming, the modulated symbols in the respective spatial streams are precoded via a steering matrix prior to their provision to the IFFT block.

While in a reception mode, digital signals received from the radio804are provided to the DSP circuitry, which is configured to acquire a received signal, for example, by detecting the presence of the signal and estimating the initial timing and frequency offsets. The DSP circuitry is further configured to digitally condition the digital signals, for example, using channel (narrowband) filtering, analog impairment conditioning (such as correcting for I/Q imbalance), and applying digital gain to ultimately obtain a narrowband signal. The output of the DSP circuitry may then be fed to the AGC, which is configured to use information extracted from the digital signals, for example, in one or more received training fields, to determine an appropriate gain. The output of the DSP circuitry also is coupled with the demodulator, which is configured to extract modulated symbols from the signal and, for example, compute the logarithm likelihood ratios (LLRs) for each bit position of each subcarrier in each spatial stream. The demodulator is coupled with the decoder, which may be configured to process the LLRs to provide decoded bits. The decoded bits from all of the spatial streams are then fed to the demultiplexer for demultiplexing. The demultiplexed bits may then be descrambled and provided to the MAC layer (the processor806) for processing, evaluation or interpretation.

The radio804generally includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter (or “transmitter chain”) and at least one RF receiver (or “receiver chain”), which may be combined into one or more transceivers. For example, the RF transmitters and receivers may include various DSP circuitry including at least one power amplifier (PA) and at least one low-noise amplifier (LNA), respectively. The RF transmitters and receivers may, in turn, be coupled to one or more antennas. For example, in some implementations, the wireless communication device800can include, or be coupled with, multiple transmit antennas (each with a corresponding transmit chain) and multiple receive antennas (each with a corresponding receive chain). The symbols output from the modem802are provided to the radio804, which then transmits the symbols via the coupled antennas. Similarly, symbols received via the antennas are obtained by the radio804, which then provides the symbols to the modem802.

The processor806can include an intelligent hardware block or device such as, for example, a processing core, a processing block, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The processor806processes information received through the radio804and the modem802, and processes information to be output through the modem802and the radio804for transmission through the wireless medium. For example, the processor806may implement a control plane and MAC layer configured to perform various operations related to the generation and transmission of MPDUs, frames or packets. The MAC layer is configured to perform or facilitate the coding and decoding of frames, spatial multiplexing, space-time block coding (STBC), beamforming, and OFDMA resource allocation, among other operations or techniques. In some implementations, the processor806may generally control the modem802to cause the modem to perform various operations described above.

The memory808can include tangible storage media such as random-access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), or combinations thereof. The memory808also can store non-transitory processor- or computer-executable software (SW) code containing instructions that, when executed by the processor806, cause the processor to perform various operations described herein for wireless communication, including the generation, transmission, reception and interpretation of MPDUs, frames or packets. For example, various functions of components disclosed herein, or various blocks or steps of a method, operation, process or algorithm disclosed herein, can be implemented as one or more modules of one or more computer programs.

FIG.9Ashows a block diagram of an example AP902. For example, the AP902can be an example implementation of the AP102described with reference toFIG.1. The AP902includes a wireless communication device (WCD)910(although the AP902may itself also be referred to generally as a wireless communication device as used herein). For example, the wireless communication device910may be an example implementation of the wireless communication device8000described with reference toFIG.8. The AP902also includes multiple antennas920coupled with the wireless communication device910to transmit and receive wireless communications. In some implementations, the AP902additionally includes an application processor930coupled with the wireless communication device910, and a memory940coupled with the application processor930. The AP902further includes at least one external network interface950that enables the AP902to communicate with a core network or backhaul network to gain access to external networks including the Internet. For example, the external network interface950may include one or both of a wired (for example, Ethernet) network interface and a wireless network interface (such as a WWAN interface). Ones of the aforementioned components can communicate with other ones of the components directly or indirectly, over at least one bus. The AP902further includes a housing that encompasses the wireless communication device910, the application processor930, the memory940, and at least portions of the antennas920and external network interface950.

FIG.9Bshows a block diagram of an example STA904. For example, the STA904can be an example implementation of the STA104described with reference toFIG.1. The STA904includes a wireless communication device915(although the STA904may itself also be referred to generally as a wireless communication device as used herein). For example, the wireless communication device915may be an example implementation of the wireless communication device800described with reference toFIG.8. The STA904also includes one or more antennas925coupled with the wireless communication device915to transmit and receive wireless communications. The STA904additionally includes an application processor935coupled with the wireless communication device915, and a memory945coupled with the application processor935. In some implementations, the STA904further includes a user interface (UI)955(such as a touchscreen or keypad) and a display965, which may be integrated with the UI955to form a touchscreen display. In some implementations, the STA904may further include one or more sensors975such as, for example, one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors. Ones of the aforementioned components can communicate with other ones of the components directly or indirectly, over at least one bus. The STA904further includes a housing that encompasses the wireless communication device915, the application processor935, the memory945, and at least portions of the antennas925, UI955, and display965.

FIG.10shows a flowchart illustrating an example process1000for communicating using an RU allocation according to some implementations. The process1000may be performed by a wireless communication device such as the wireless communication device800described above with reference toFIG.8. In some implementations, the process1000may be performed by a wireless communication device operating as or within an AP, such as one of the APs102and902described above with reference toFIGS.1and9A, respectively. In some implementations, the process1000may be performed by a wireless communication device operating as or within a STA, such as one of the STAs104and904described above with reference toFIGS.1and9B, respectively.

In some implementations, the process1000begins in block1002with allocating at least a first resource unit (RU) associated with a wireless channel to include data for a first wireless station.

In block1004, the process1000proceeds with transmitting the data for the first wireless station via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan. The locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan may be shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

FIG.11shows a flowchart illustrating an example process1100for communicating using a tone plan according to some implementations. The process1100may be performed by a wireless communication device such as the wireless communication device800described above with reference toFIG.8. In some implementations, the process1100may be performed by a wireless communication device operating as or within an AP, such as one of the APs102and902described above with reference toFIGS.1and9A, respectively. In some implementations, the process1100may be performed by a wireless communication device operating as or within a STA, such as one of the STAs104and904described above with reference toFIGS.1and9B, respectively.

In some implementations, the process1100begins in block1102with receiving, from a wireless access point, an indication of an allocation of at least a first resource unit (RU) of a wireless channel allocated for the wireless station to transmit data.

In block1104, the process1100proceeds with transmitting the data to the wireless access point via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan. The locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan may be shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

FIG.12shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device1200according to some implementations. In some implementations, the wireless communication device1200is configured to perform one or more of the processes described above. The wireless communication device1200may be an example implementation of the wireless communication device800described above with reference toFIG.8. For example, the wireless communication device1200can be a chip, SoC, chipset, package or device that includes at least one processor and at least one modem (for example, a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) modem or a cellular modem). In some implementations, the wireless communication device1200can be a device for use in an AP, such as one of the APs102and902described above with reference toFIGS.1and9A, respectively. In some implementations, the wireless communication device1200can be a device for use in a STA, such as one of the STAs104and904described above with reference toFIGS.1and9B, respectively. In some other implementations, the wireless communication device1200can be an AP or a STA that includes such a chip, SoC, chipset, package or device as well as at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one antenna.

The wireless communication device1200includes an RU allocation module1202, a tone plan module1204, a signaling module1206and a communication module1208. Portions of one or more of the modules1202,1204,1206and1208may be implemented at least in part in hardware or firmware. For example, the RU allocation module1202, the tone plan module1204, the signaling module1206and the communication module1208may be implemented at least in part by a modem (such as the modem802). In some implementations, portions of some of the modules1202,1204,1206or1208may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory (such as the memory808). For example, portions of one or more of the modules1202,1204,1206or1208can be implemented as non-transitory instructions (or “code”) executable by a processor (such as the processor806) to perform the functions or operations of the respective module.

The RU allocation module1202is configured to allocate RUs associated with a wireless channel.

The tone plan module1204is configured to implement a new tone plan (such as the new tone plan700described with reference toFIG.7). The tone plan module1204may define the data tones to send or receive data based on an RU allocation.

The signaling module1206is configured to interpret signal fields to determine the RU allocation, punctured channel information, or both. For example, the signaling module1206may interpret a preamble portion of an OFDMA PPDU to determine the RU allocated to the wireless communication device1200.

The communication module1208is configured to communicate data via a set of tones associated with an RU allocated to the wireless communication device1200.

FIG.13shows example RU definitions1300in terms of tone indices according to some implementations. The example RU definitions1300are based on the new tone plan700for an 80 MHz EHT PPDU as described with reference toFIG.7. The notation [x:y] indicates the RU includes tone x through tone y. The notation [x1:y1, x2:y2] indicate the RU includes tone x 1 through tone y 1 and tone x2 through tone y2. A 242-tone RU (shown at1310, referred to as RU 2) may include 242 tones from tone −253 to tone −12. The RU 2 inFIG.13may correspond to the 2nd 242-tone RU inFIG.6BandFIG.7. The 20 MHz subchannel boundary between a first 20 MHz subchannel and a second 20 MHz subchannel is between tone −257 and tone −256. The tone −257 is the last tone in the first 20 MHz subchannel and the −256 tone is the first tone in the second 20 MHz subchannel. RU 2 has been shifted by 5 tones compared to the legacy tone plan500described with reference toFIG.5but still includes a set of 242 tones that is equivalent in quantity to the corresponding RU in the legacy tone plan500. For reference, the RUs that have been modified (as compared to a legacy tone plan) are indicated with grey shaded boxes.

FIGS.1-13and the operations described herein are examples meant to aid in understanding example implementations and should not be used to limit the potential implementations or limit the scope of the claims. Some implementations may perform additional operations, fewer operations, operations in parallel or in a different order, and some operations differently.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects. While the aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of various examples, any combination of aspects from any of the examples is also within the scope of the disclosure. The examples in this disclosure are provided for pedagogical purposes. Alternatively, or in addition to the other examples described herein, examples include any combination of the following implementation options (identified as clauses for reference).

Clauses

Clause 1. A method for wireless communication by a wireless access point, including allocating at least a first resource unit (RU) associated with a wireless channel to include data for a first wireless station, and transmitting the data for the first wireless station via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan, the locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan being shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

Clause 2. The method of clause 1, further including allocating one or more additional RUs to include other data for one or more respective other wireless stations, and transmitting the other data for the one or more respective other wireless stations in respective sets of tones corresponding to the one or more additional RUs.

Clause 3. The method of clause 1, where the first RU according to the non-legacy tone plan has a same quantity of tones as the corresponding RU according to the legacy tone plan.

Clause 4. The method of clause 1, where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 5. The method of clause 4, where at least one of the plurality of RUs according to the non-legacy tone plan is based on pilot tone replacement in which one or more pilot tones are designated as data tones.

Clause 6. The method of clause 1, where the wireless channel includes at least one 80 MHz bandwidth portion including a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel and a fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, and where the non-legacy tone plan differs from the legacy tone plan by a tone shift for all 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone and 242-tone RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels such that those RUs do not overlap the 20 MHz subchannel boundaries.

Clause 7. The method of clause 6, further including allocating all RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels regardless of puncturing of the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, the fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, or both.

Clause 8. The method of clause 1, where the first RU is a 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, or 242-tone RU at an edge of a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel.

Clause 9. The method of clause 8, further including puncturing a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel, the second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel being adjacent to the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel.

Clause 10. A method for wireless communication by a wireless station, including: receiving, from a wireless access point, an indication of an allocation of at least a first resource unit (RU) of a wireless channel allocated for the wireless station to transmit data; and transmitting the data to the wireless access point via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan, the locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan being shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

Clause 11. The method of clause 10, where the first RU according to the non-legacy tone plan has a same quantity of tones as the corresponding RU according to the legacy tone plan.

Clause 12. The method of clause 10, where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 13. The method of clause 10, where the wireless channel includes at least one 80 MHz bandwidth portion including a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel and a fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, and where the non-legacy tone plan differs from the legacy tone plan by a tone shift for all 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone and 242-tone RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels such that those RUs do not overlap the 20 MHz subchannel boundaries.

Clause 14. The method of clause 10, where the first RU is a 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, or 242-tone RU at an edge of a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel, and where a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, adjacent to the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, is punctured.

Clause 15. A wireless access point including: at least one processor configured to allocate at least a first resource unit (RU) of a wireless channel to include data for a first wireless station; and at least one modem configured to output the data for transmission to the first wireless station in a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan, the locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan being shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

Clause 16. The wireless access point of clause 15, where the at least one processor is further configured to allocate one or more additional RUs to include other data for one or more respective other wireless stations; and where the at least one modem is further configured to output the other data for transmission to the one or more respective other wireless stations in respective sets of tones corresponding to the one or more additional RUs. where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 17. The wireless access point of clause 15, where the first RU according to the non-legacy tone plan has a same quantity of tones as the corresponding RU according to the legacy tone plan.

Clause 18. The wireless access point of clause 15, where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 19. The wireless access point of clause 18, where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 20. The wireless access point of clause 15, where the wireless channel includes at least one 80 MHz bandwidth portion including a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel and a fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, and where the non-legacy tone plan differs from the legacy tone plan by a tone shift for all RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels to prevent those RUs from overlapping the 20 MHz subchannel boundaries.

Clause 21. The wireless access point of clause 20, where the at least one processor is further configured to allocate all RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels regardless of puncturing of the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, the fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, or both.

Clause 22. The wireless access point of clause 15, where the first RU is a 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, or 242-tone RU at an edge of a 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel.

Clause 23. The wireless access point of clause 22, where the at least one modem is further configured to puncture a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel, the second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel being adjacent to the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel.

Clause 24. The wireless access point of clause 15, further including: at least one transceiver coupled to the at least one modem; at least one antenna coupled to the at least one transceiver to wirelessly transmit signals output from the at least one transceiver and to wirelessly receive signals for input into the at least one transceiver; and a housing that encompasses the at least one modem, the at least one processor, the at least one transceiver and at least a portion of the at least one antenna.

Clause 25. A wireless station including: at least one processor; and at least one modem communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and configured to: obtain, from a wireless access point, an indication of an allocation of at least a first resource unit (RU) of a wireless channel allocated for the wireless station to transmit data, and output the data to the wireless access point via a first set of tones associated with the first RU according to a non-legacy tone plan, the locations of the first set of tones in the non-legacy tone plan being shifted relative to corresponding tones associated with a corresponding RU according to a legacy tone plan such that the first set of tones for the first RU do not overlap a 20 MHz subchannel boundary of the wireless channel associated with the first RU.

Clause 26. The wireless station of clause 25, where the first RU according to the non-legacy tone plan has a same quantity of tones as the corresponding RU according to the legacy tone plan.

Clause 27. The wireless station of clause 25, where the non-legacy tone plan defines sets of tones corresponding to a plurality of RUs such that the plurality of RUs do not overlap 20 MHz subchannel boundaries within the wireless channel.

Clause 28. The wireless station of clause 25, where the wireless channel includes at least one 80 MHz bandwidth portion including a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, a third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel and a fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, and where the non-legacy tone plan differs from the legacy tone plan by a tone shift for all 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone and 242-tone RUs in the second and third 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels such that those RUs do not overlap the 20 MHz subchannel boundaries.

Clause 29. The wireless station of clause 25, where the first RU is a 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, or 242-tone RU at an edge of a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel of the wireless channel, and where a second 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, adjacent to the first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel, is punctured.

Clause 30. The wireless station of clause 25, further including: at least one transceiver coupled to the at least one modem; at least one antenna coupled to the at least one transceiver to wirelessly transmit signals output from the at least one transceiver and to wirelessly receive signals for input into the at least one transceiver; and a housing that encompasses at least the at least one processor, the at least one modem, the at least one transceiver, and at least a portion of the at least one antenna.

Clause 31. A method for wireless communication by a wireless communication device including: receiving a resource unit (RU) allocation for the wireless communication device to communicate via a wireless channel that includes at least one punctured subchannel and at least one non-punctured subchannel; determining data tones for RUs for the at least one non-punctured subchannel based on the RU allocation such that none of the data tones for the RUs are located within the at least one punctured subchannel; and communicating via the determined data tones.

Clause 32. The method of clause 31, where determining the data tones includes determining the data tones based on a first tone plan that defines tones for at least the RU allocation, and where the first tone plan is different from a legacy tone plan that defines tones for a legacy RU allocation having tones that are located within the at least one punctured subchannel.

Clause 33. The method of clause 32, where the first tone plan defines the data tones for the RUs based on shifting corresponding data tones of RUs in the legacy tone plan away from the subchannel boundary of the at least one punctured subchannel.

Clause 34. The method of any one of clauses 32-33, further including determining the data tones for the RUs in the first tone plan based on puncturing a subset of legacy data tones from the legacy tone plan such that none of the data tones for the RUs are located within the at least one punctured subchannel.

Clause 35. The method of clause 34, where determining the data tones includes: identifying one or more pilot tones defined in the legacy tone plan for the at least one non-punctured subchannel; and reallocating the one or more pilot tones as data tones.

Clause 36. The method of any one of clauses 32-35, where the wireless channel includes at least one 80 MHz bandwidth portion including four 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels, and where the first tone plan differs from the legacy tone plan for at least the middle two 20 MHz bandwidth subchannels.

Clause 37. The method of clause 36, further including: using the first tone plan rather than the legacy tone plan to determine the data tones when at least one of an outer 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel within an 80 MHz bandwidth portion of the wireless channel is punctured.

Clause 38. The method of any one of clauses 32-37, where determining the data tones includes: determining that the RU allocation is for a legacy RU in a legacy tone plan and that the legacy RU is adjacent to the at least one punctured subchannel of the wireless channel; and determining the data tones for the RU allocation using the first tone plan rather than the legacy tone plan based on a determination that the at least one punctured subchannel of the wireless channel is punctured.

Clause 39. The method of clause 38, further including determining that the RU allocation is adjacent to the at least one punctured subchannel based on a first RU allocation value in a signaling field of a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), where the first RU allocation value is used for the RU allocation when an adjacent subchannel is punctured, and where the first RU allocation value is different from a second RU allocation value used for the same RU allocation when the adjacent subchannel is not punctured.

Clause 40. The method of clause 38, further including determining the at least one punctured subchannel is punctured based on punctured channel information in a signaling field of a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) that also includes the RU allocation.

Clause 41. The method of clause 40, where the punctured channel information and the RU allocation are included in a signaling field of the preamble in a first 80 MHz bandwidth portion of the wireless channel.

Clause 42. The method of clause 41, where the signaling field of the PPDU indicates the RU allocation for at least the first 80 MHz bandwidth portion of the wireless channel and where the subchannel puncturing information indicates a subchannel puncturing pattern for a total bandwidth of the wireless channel.

Clause 43. The method of any one of clauses 31-42, where a total bandwidth of the wireless channel is 320 MHz bandwidth, and a bandwidth associated with the RU allocation is between 20 MHz and 60 MHz.

Clause 44. The method of any one of clauses 31-43, where the RU allocation is for a 26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, or 242-tone RU and where a legacy tone plan for that size RU includes data tones within a punctured subchannel.

Clause 45. The method of any one of clauses 31-43, where the RU allocation is for a 484-tone RU that is good for a long training field (LTF) signal transmission or channel estimation.

Clause 46. A method for wireless communication including: determining a tone plan that defines resource units (RUs) within a wireless channel such that different ones of the RUs can be allocated to different wireless communication devices for a transmission; determining data tones for the RUs such that none of the data tones for 242-tone RUs and smaller are located within more than one 20 MHz subchannel of the wireless channel; and allocating at least one RU allocation to a wireless communication device for that wireless communication device to communicate via the transmission.

Clause 47. The method of clause 46, where the tone plan is used for the transmission regardless of subchannel puncturing.

Clause 48. The method of clause 46, where the tone plan is used for the transmission when at least one 20 MHz subchannel of the wireless channel is punctured.

Clause 49. The method of clause 46, where the tone plan is used for the transmission when at least one of a first 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel and a fourth 20 MHz bandwidth subchannel within an 80 MHz bandwidth portion of the wireless channel is punctured.

Clause 50. A method for wireless communication by a wireless communication device, the method including: generating a packet that includes an RU allocation described in any one of clauses 31-49; modulating the packet; and transmitting the modulated packet for transmission to at least one wireless communication device.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in the wireless communication device having at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the wireless communication device to implement any one of the above referenced methods.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” or “one or more of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. For example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover the possibilities of: a only, b only, c only, a combination of a and b, a combination of a and c, a combination of b and c, and a combination of a and b and c.

As described above, in some aspects implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as software. For example, various functions of components disclosed herein, or various blocks or steps of a method, operation, process or algorithm disclosed herein can be implemented as one or more modules of one or more computer programs. Such computer programs can include non-transitory processor- or computer-executable instructions encoded on one or more tangible processor- or computer-readable storage media for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus including the components of the devices described herein. By way of example, and not limitation, such storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to store program code in the form of instructions or data structures. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of storage media.