Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for signaling high efficiency preambles

Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed to signal a packet configuration. A HEW device to signal a packet configuration may include circuitry. The circuitry may be configured to generate a HE packet comprising a legacy signal field (L-SIG) followed by one or more HE signal fields and include in the L-SIG the packet configuration of the HE packet to signal to a second HEW device. The circuitry may configure a length field of the L-SIG to be a one or two modulo of three (MOD 3) to indicate the HE packet. The length field of the L-SIG may indicate that the HE packet includes a portion that has a one-quarter size subcarrier. The circuitry may set the length field of the L-SIG to be 1 mod 3 to indicate a first type of HE packet and to be 2 mod 3 to indicate a second type of HE packet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments pertain to wireless networks. Some embodiments relate to transmitting and receiving preambles in wireless local area networks (WLANs) including networks operating in accordance with the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards. Some embodiments related to transmitting and receiving preambles in WLANs operating with both legacy standards and with a high-efficiency (HE) WLAN (HEW) or IEEE 802.11ax standard.

BACKGROUND

One issue with communicating data over a wireless network is transmitting and receiving packets that may include preamble fields. Another issue with communicating data over a wireless network is that often more than one standard may be in use in a WLAN. For example, IEEE 802.11ax, referred to as HEW may need to be used with legacy versions of IEEE 802.11.

Thus there are general needs for systems and methods that allow for transmitting and receiving preamble fields for both HEW devices and legacy devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a wireless network, in accordance with some embodiments. The wireless network may comprise a basic service set (BSS)100that may include an access point (AP)102, a plurality of HEW devices104and a plurality of legacy devices106.

The AP102may be an AP using the IEEE 802.11 to transmit and receive. The AP102may be a base station. The AP102may use other communications protocols as well as the 802.11 protocol. For example, the AP102may use 802.16. The 802.11 protocol may be 802.11ax. The 802.11 protocol may include using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and/or code division multiple access (CDMA). The 802.11 may include using multi-user (MU) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) (MU-MIMO). The HEW devices104may operate in accordance with 802.11ax or another standard of 802.11. The legacy devices106may operate in accordance with one or more of 802.11 a/g/ag/n/ac, or another legacy wireless communication standard.

The HEW devices104may be wireless transmit and receive devices such as cellular telephones, handheld wireless devices, wireless glasses, wireless watches, wireless personal devices, tablets, or other devices that may be transmitting and receiving using the 802.11 protocol such as 802.11ax or another wireless protocol.

The BSS100may operate on a primary channel and one or more secondary channels or sub-channels. The BSS100may include one or more APs102. In accordance with embodiments, the AP102may communicate with one or more of the HEW devices104on one or more of the secondary channels or sub-channels or the primary channel. In example embodiments, the AP102communicates with the legacy devices106on the primary channel. In example embodiments, the AP102may be configured to communicate concurrently with one or more of the HEW devices104on one or more of the secondary channels and a legacy device106utilizing only the primary channel and not utilizing any of the secondary channels.

The AP102may communicate with legacy devices106in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In example embodiments, the AP102may also be configured to communicate with HEW devices104in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. Legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques may refer to any IEEE 802.11 communication technique prior to IEEE 802.11ax.

In some embodiments, HEW frames may have a bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, an 80 MHz contiguous bandwidths, or an 80+80 MHz (160 MHz) non-contiguous bandwidth. In some embodiments, a 320 MHz contiguous bandwidth may be used. In some embodiments, bandwidths of 1 MHz, 1.25 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 5 MHz and 10 MHz or a combination thereof may also be used. In these embodiments, an HEW frame may be configured for transmitting a number of spatial streams.

In other embodiments, the AP102, HEW device104, and/or legacy device106may implement different technologies such as CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1×, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), BlueTooth®, IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)).

In an OFDMA system such as 802.11ax, an associated HEW device104may operate on a sub-channel of the BSS100(that can operate, for example, at 80 MHz) where the sub-channel may be a portion of the 80 MHz (e.g., 1.25 MHz, 2.5 MHz, etc.).

In example embodiments, an AP102, HEW devices104, and legacy devices106use carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). In some embodiments, the media access control (MAC) layer706(seeFIG. 7) controls access to the wireless media.

In example embodiments, an AP102, HEW devices104, and legacy devices106, perform carrier sensing and can detect whether or not the channel is free. For example, an AP102, HEW device104, or legacy device106may use clear channel assessment (CCA), which may include a determination whether or not the channel is clear based on a Decibel-milliwatts (dBm) level of reception. In example embodiments, the physical layer (PHY)904is configured to determine a CCA for an AP102, HEW devices104, and legacy devices106.

After determining that the channel is free, an AP102, HEW device104, and legacy devices106defer their attempt to access the channel a back-off time to avoid collisions. In example embodiments, an AP102, HEW device104, and legacy devices106determine the back-off time by first waiting a specific amount of time and then adding a random back-off time, which, in some embodiments, is chosen uniformly between 0 and a current contention window (CS) size.

In example embodiments, an AP102, HEW devices104, and legacy devices106access the channel in different ways. For example, in accordance with some IEEE 802.11ax (HEW) embodiments, an AP102may 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 AP102may transmit an HEW master-sync transmission at the beginning of the HEW control period. During the HEW control period, HEW devices104may communicate with the AP102in accordance with a non-contention based multiple access technique. This is unlike conventional Wi-Fi communications in which legacy devices106and, optionally, HEW devices104, communicate in accordance with a contention-based communication technique, rather than a non-contention multiple access technique. During the HEW control period, the AP102may communicate with HEW devices104using one or more HEW frames. During the HEW control period, legacy devices106refrain from communicating. In some embodiments, the master-sync transmission may be referred to as an HEW control and schedule transmission.

In some embodiments, the multiple-access technique used during the HEW control period may be a scheduled OFDMA technique, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may be a TDMA, CDMA or a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technique. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may be a space-division multiple access (SDMA) technique or uplink MU-MIMO (UL MU-MMIO).

The AP102may also communicate with legacy devices106in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In some embodiments, the master station may also be configurable to communicate with HEW stations outside the HEW control period in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques, although this is not a requirement.

In example embodiments, the AP102and/or HEW device104is configured to perform one or more of the functions and/or methods described herein in conjunction withFIGS. 2-6such generating an L-SIG to indicate a HE packet or detecting that an L-SIG indicates an HE packet.

FIG. 2illustrates a signal constellation200that may be used in a signal field to indicate that packets that follow may be for 802.11a, in accordance with some embodiments. The horizontal axis may be an in-phase (I)204portion of a received signal field, and the vertical axis may be a quadrature portion (Q)202portion of the received signal field. The amplitude and phase shift of the received signal field encode information. The dots206,208indicate received amplitude and phase combinations of symbols0210and1212, respectively. The power can be measured along the I axis204and along the Q axis202. A greater power along the I axis204may indicate that the signal field is for 802.11a.

HEW devices104may use the signal constellation200to determine the I204and Q202axes, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. HEW devices104may use the signal constellation200to determine that a packet is an 802.11a packet and defer use of the wireless medium based on a length and duration in the 802.11a packet, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. HEW devices104may determine to use the 802.11a standard based on receiving the signal constellation200, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

FIG. 3illustrates a series300of signal constellations330,360,390that may be used in a signal field to indicate that packets that follow may be for 802.11n, in accordance with some embodiments. The signal constellations330,360,390may be similar to the signal constellation inFIG. 2. In the first signal constellation330, the dots302,304are along the I axis204. In the second signal constellation360, the dots306,310indicate received amplitude and phase combinations of symbols0308, and1312, respectively. The dots306,310are along the vertical axis202. In the third signal constellation390, the dots314,316indicate received amplitude and phase combinations of symbols0308, and1312. The dots314,316are along the vertical axis202. The power can be measured along the I axes204and along the Q axes202. The first constellation330may be used to determine the I axis204and the Q axis202. A greater power on the Q axis202for the second constellation360, and a greater power on the Q axis202for the third constellation390, may indicate that the signal fields may be for 802.11n. The first constellation330may be a signal field. The second and third constellations360,390may be high-throughput (HT) signal fields.

Legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11a may not be able to interpret the signal constellation360since it is rotated. The first constellation330may be a signal field that includes a length field and a rate. The legacy devices106then defer for the entire time indicated by the length and the rate. The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11n can then set the length and rate fields of the first constellation330for the entire duration of the 802.11 transmission. In this way, the legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11n can recognize second constellation360as an HT signal field and the third constellation390as an HT signal field and can defer legacy devices106operating in accordance with 802.11a.

HEW devices104may use the signal constellations330,360, and/or390to determine that a packet is an 802.11n packet and defer use of the wireless medium based on a duration and length in the 802.11n packet, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. HEW devices104may determine to use the 802.11n standard based on receiving the signal constellations330,360,390, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

FIG. 4illustrates a series400of signal constellations430,460,490that may be used in a signal field to indicate that packets that follow may be for 802.11ac, in accordance with some embodiments. The signal constellations430,460,490may be similar to the signal constellation inFIG. 2. In the first signal constellation430, the dots402,404are along the I axis204. In the second signal constellation460, the dots406,408indicate received amplitude and phase combinations of symbols0410and1412, respectively, and the dots406,408are along the I axis204. In the third signal constellation490, the dots418,414indicate received amplitude and phase combinations of symbols0420and1416, respectively, and the dots414,416are along the Q axis202. The power can be measured along the I axes204and along the Q axes202. The first constellation430may be used to determine the I axis204and the Q axis202. A greater power on the I axis202for the second constellation460, and a greater power on the Q axis202for the third constellation490may indicate that the signal fields may be for 802.11ac. The first constellation430may be a signal field. The second and third constellations460,490may be very high-throughput (VHT) signal fields, which may be termed SIG-A and SIG-B.

Legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11a may not be able to interpret the signal constellation490since it is rotated. The first constellation430may be a signal field that includes a length field and a rate. The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11a will defer for the entire time indicated by the length and rate in the first constellation430. The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11n will recognize that the second constellation460is not rotated so it is not a signal field for 802.11n. The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11n will then defer for the entire time indicated by the length and rate in the first constellation430.

The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11ac can then set the length and rate fields of the first constellation430for the entire duration of the 802.11ac transmission. In this way, the legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11ac can recognize second constellation460as a VHT signal field and third constellation490as a VHT signal field, and can defer legacy devices106operating in accordance with 802.11a and 802.11n.

HEW devices104may use the signal constellations430,460, and/or490to determine that a packet is an 802.11ac packet and defer use of the wireless medium based on a duration and length in the 802.11ac packet, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. HEW devices104may determine to use the 802.11ac standard based on receiving the signal constellations430,460,490, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

FIG. 5illustrates a HE packet500, in accordance with some embodiments. The HE packet500may include a preamble522and data520. The packet500may be a physical-layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU). The preamble522may include a legacy portion524and a HE portion226. The legacy portion524may include a legacy short training field (L-STF)502, a legacy long training field (L-LTF)504, and a L-SIG506, which may be modified for HE. The HE portion may include a first high-efficiency (HE) signal field (HE-SIG1)508and a second HE-SIG (HE-SIG2)510. The data520may include data.

The L-SIG field506provides information about the data field as far as the coding and modulation (rate) and the length among other parameters. The L-SIG506may be configured to indicate to a HEW device104a packet configuration of the following packets, such as HE-SIG1508, HE-SIG2510, and/or data520. For example, the length606of the L-SIG506may be used to indicate to a HEW device104a configuration of a subsequent packet. The length606of the L-SIG506may be used to indicate different types of HE-portions526. The L-SIG506may also indicate to legacy devices106to defer.

The length606may be set so that the length is not a modulo of 3 (MOD 3). Legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11ac would then determine that the HE packet500is not for the 802.11ac legacy device106. The length606may be set so that a 1 (MOD 3) indicates a first type of HE packet500, and a 2 (MOD 3) indicates a second type of HE packet500. In example embodiments, the L-SIG506may indicate that the packet is a HE-packet500and the HEW device104may have to distinguish between different HE formats. In example embodiments, if the length MOD 3=0, then the HEW device104will defer for a duration indicated by the length field and a rate field.

The L-STF502, L-LTF504, and L-SIG506may be formatted so that they are compatible with legacy devices such as devices that operate in accordance with IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac. With each evolution of the 802.11 standard (IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac and now 802.11ax), the packet structure is designed in order to allow the corresponding devices to coexist with their previous revision legacy devices. In order to do this, each standard utilized a packet structure that included the legacy portion524of the preamble522at the beginning of the transmission. Different signal fields for each of the revisions follow the legacy portion524of the packet, with mechanisms to detect each of the revisions of the standard. For example, 802.11n may have a high-throughput STF (HT-STF) followed by a HT-LTF as discussed in conjunction withFIG. 3. As another example, 802.11ac may have a very-high throughput (VHT) SIG (VHT-SIG) following the legacy portion524as discussed in conjunction withFIG. 4.

The HE-SIG1508and HE-SIG2510may follow the L-SIG506. The HE-SIG1508and HE-SIG2510may be in accordance with an IEEE 802.11ax standard. In example embodiments, HE-SIG1508and HE-SIG2510may be one or more symbols in length and contain information regarding the formatting of the data520and other information.

The HEW device104needs a way to recognize packet500as a HEW packet and a way to defer legacy devices106. In example embodiments, HE-SIG1508may use a constellation pattern as second constellation460and HE-SIG2510may follow a constellation pattern as third constellation490.

In this way, the HEW device104will defer legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11a and 802.11n in the same was as described in conjunction withFIG. 4. Further, the HEW device104will defer legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11ac by setting the length field606to not be an even modulus of 3. The legacy devices106that operate in accordance with 802.11ac will then defer for a period of time indicated by the length and duration fields of L-SIG506, which may be set for the duration of the HEW device104transmission. In example embodiments, the HEW device104may defer legacy devices106in a different way and may recognize HEW packets in a different way.

An indication in the L-SIG506that subsequent fields may be the HE portion524(by making the length not an even modulus of 3) may enable a HEW device104to more quickly receive the subsequent preamble fields. An indication in the L-SIG506that the packet is a HE-packet500may be provided with very little or no overhead as the indication may be provided by the length606field of the L-SIG506.

FIG. 6illustrates a legacy signal field (L-SIG)506, in accordance with some embodiments. The L-SIG506may include a rate602, reserved604, length606, parity608, and signal tail610. The rate602may be 4 bits and may be a rate that indicates a rate in millions of bits per second. The reserved604may be a reserved bit. The length606may be 12 bits and may encode a number of bytes in the embedded data620frame. The length606may be used as described in conjunction withFIG. 5to signal to HEW devices104that the packet may be a HE packet500. The parity608may be an even parity bit for the first 16 signal bits to provide an indication if the first 16 bits are corrupted. The tail may be six 0 bits to unwind convolutional codes.

The rate602of the L-SIG506may be set as a fixed and known value, and the length606of the L-SIG506may be set to a length that would defer legacy device106beyond the transmission of the HEW device104transmission.

FIG. 7illustrates a HE packet700, in accordance with some embodiments. Illustrated inFIG. 7is a preamble522, legacy portion524, and HE portion526. HE-SIG2710may be transmitted with a spacing of the subcarrier of one-quarter the spacing of the subcarrier for the legacy portion524. L-STF702may be the same or similar to L-STF502. L-LTF704may be the same or similar to L-LTF504. L-SIG706may be the same or similar to L-SIG506. Data720may be data. The length606may indicate to a HEW device104that one-quarter spacing for the subcarrier is used. Moreover, the length of one or more fields of the HE portion526may have a duration that is four times the duration of a duration of the legacy portion524.

For example, in some embodiments, the standard-duration OFDM symbols may have a symbol duration that ranges from 3.6 micro-seconds (μs) including a 400 nanosecond (ns) short guard interval to 4 μs as including an 800 ns guard interval. In some embodiments, the longer-duration OFDM symbols have a symbol duration that is 4× the duration of the standard-duration OFDM symbols.

In example embodiments, the HEW device104may recognize that the packet700is a HEW packet104based on the length606and one or more of HE-SIG1708and HE-SIG2710. Legacy device106may be deferred based on the length606(e.g., 802.11ac devices), HE-SIG1708, and/or HE-SIG2710.

FIG. 8illustrates a method800for receiving HE packets, in accordance with some embodiments. The method800may begin at operation804with receiving an L-SIG. For example, a HEW device104may receive L-SIG506or L-SIG706. The HEW device104may receive L-STF502and L-LTF504prior to receiving the L-SIG506. The method800may continue at operation806with determining if L-SIG indicates a possible HE-Packet. If the L-SIG does not indicate a HE-packet, then the method800may continue at operation810. For example, a HEW device104may determine that a L-SIG506or L-SIG706does not indicate a HE packet500,700because the length606field of the L-SIG506,706may be zero modulus 3 (MOD 3), which may indicate the L-SIG506,706is for 802.11ac. The HEW device104may defer for a period of time indicated by the rate602and length606of the L-SIG506,706, if the L-SIG506,706does not indicate a possible HE-packet.

If the L-SIG does indicate a possible HE-packet, then the method800may continue at operation807with determining if the HE-SIG1and/or HE-SIG2indicate a HE packet. For example, HE-packets may use the first constellation430and the second constellation460as described in conjunction withFIG. 4to defer legacy devices106and to detect the HEW packets104.

If the HE-SIG1and/or HE-SIG2do indicate a HE-packet, then the method800may continue at operation808with decoding the HE preamble portion according to the L-SIG. In example embodiments, the L-SIG, HE-SIG1, and/or HE-SIG2may only indicate that the packet is a HE packet500and not different types of HE packets. For example, the length field506not being 0 modulus 3 (MOD 3) may indicate that the packet is a possible HE packet, and the HEW device104may have to determine between different types of HE packets in other ways.

In example embodiments, there may be only one type of HE packet. In example embodiments, the length field606may indicate between two types of HE packets. For example, the length field606being 1 modulus 3 (MOD 3) may indicate a packet type as illustrated inFIG. 5, and the length field606being 2 modulus 3 (MOD 2) may indicate a packet type as illustrated inFIG. 7. In example embodiments, an AP102or master station may be configured to configure the packet and L-SIG to indicate that the packet is an HE packet. The AP102may transmit the L-SIG that indicates the packet is an HE packet in down-load transmissions, and the AP102may initiate a transmission opportunity with the HE packet. In example embodiments, HEW devices104may indicate that the packets are HE packets in different ways during an upload period during a transmission opportunity.

FIG. 9illustrates a HEW device, in accordance with example embodiments. HEW device900may be an HEW compliant device that may be arranged to communicate with one or more other HEW devices, such as HEW devices104(FIG. 1) or access point102(FIG. 1) as well as communicate with legacy devices106(FIG. 1). HEW devices104and legacy devices106may also be referred to as HEW stations (STAs) and legacy STAs, respectively. HEW device900may be suitable for operating as access point102(FIG. 1) or an HEW device104(FIG. 1).

In accordance with embodiments, HEW device900may include, among other things, a transmit/receive element901(for example, an antenna), a transceiver902, PHY circuitry904, and MAC906. PHY904and MAC906may be HEW compliant layers and may also be compliant with one or more legacy IEEE 802.11 standards. MAC906may be arranged to configure PPDUs and arranged to transmit and receive PPDUs, among other things. HEW device900may also include other hardware circuitry908and memory910both of which may be configured to perform the various operations described herein. The hardware circuitry908may be coupled to the transceiver902, which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element901. WhileFIG. 9depicts the hardware circuitry908and the transceiver902as separate components, the hardware circuitry908and the transceiver902may be integrated together in an electronic package or chip.

In example embodiments, the HEW device900is configured to perform one or more of the functions and/or methods described herein in conjunction withFIGS. 1-8such generating an L-SIG to indicate a HE packet or detecting that an L-SIG indicates an HE packet.

The PHY904may be arranged to transmit the HEW PPDU. The PHY904may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation, upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, and so forth. In some embodiments, the hardware circuitry908may include one or more processors. The hardware circuitry908may be configured to perform functions based on instructions being stored in a random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), or based on special purpose circuitry. In some embodiments, the hardware circuitry908may be configured to perform one or more of the functions and/or methods described herein in conjunction withFIGS. 1-8such generating an L-SIG to indicate a HE packet or detecting that an L-SIG indicates an HE packet.

In some embodiments, two or more antennas may be coupled to the PHY904and arranged for sending and receiving signals including transmission of the HEW packets. The HEW device900may include a transceiver902to transmit and receive data such as HEW PPDU and packets that include an indication that the HEW device900should adapt the channel contention settings according to settings included in the packet. The memory910may store information for configuring the other circuitry to perform operations for one or more of the functions and/or methods described herein for methods of transmitting pilot carriers, interpreting received pilot carriers, and generating and interpreting indications of which methods of transmitting pilot carriers to use.

In some embodiments, the HEW device900may be configured to communicate using OFDM and/or OFDMA communication signals over a multicarrier communication channel. In some embodiments, HEW device900may be configured to communicate in accordance with one or more specific communication standards, such as the EEE standards including IEEE 802.11-2012, 802.11n-2009, 802.11ac-2013, 802.11ax, standards and/or proposed specifications for WLANs, although the scope of the example 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 device900may use 4× symbol duration of 802.11n or 802.11ac.

In some embodiments, a HEW device900may 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, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), an access point, a base station, a transmit/receive device for a wireless standard such as 802.11 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, a graphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobile device elements. The display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen including a touch screen.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments. Example 1 is a high-efficiency (HE) wireless local area network (HEW) device comprising circuitry configured to signal a packet configuration by: generating a HE packet comprising a legacy signal field (L-SIG) followed by one or more HE signal fields; and configuring the L-SIG to signal to a second HEW device a packet configuration of the HE packet.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally include where the packet configuration of the HE packet is one from the following group: a length of a guard interval and a preamble configuration.

In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1 or 2 can optionally include where the circuitry is to configure a length field of the L-SIG to be a one or two modulo of three (MOD 3) to indicate a first HE packet configuration or a second HE packet configuration, respectively.

In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 3 can optionally include where the length field of the L-SIG indicates that the HE packet configuration includes a portion that has a one-quarter size subcarrier.

In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally include where the circuitry is to set a length field of the L-SIG to be mod (LENGTH, 3)=1 or mod (LENGTH, 3)=2, wherein the L-SIG is mod (LENGTH, 3)=1 indicates a first type of HE packet configuration that follows; and wherein the L-SIG is mod (LENGTH, 3)=2 indicates a second type of HE packet configuration that follows.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5 can optionally include where the circuitry is to configure the L-SIG to indicate to legacy devices to defer access for a duration indicated by a length field of the L-SIG and a duration field of the L-SIG.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6 can optionally include where the circuitry is to configure a length field of the L-SIG to be longer than a HE packet to indicate the HE packet.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7 can optionally include where the circuitry is configured to operate in accordance with orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA).

In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 9 can optionally include where the circuitry is configured to operate in accordance with Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax.

In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 8 can optionally include where the circuitry is further configured to transmit the HE packet to the second HEW device and to transmit a schedule to the second HEW device, the schedule to include a duration and frequency allocation for the second HEW device for a transmit opportunity; and wherein the circuitry is configured to generate a second HE packet without the L-SIG field in the transmit opportunity.

In Example 11, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10 can optionally include where the HE packet further comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF) and a legacy long training field (L-LTF).

In Example 12, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11 can optionally include where the HEW device is an access point.

In Example 13, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12 can optionally include memory coupled to the circuitry.

In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 can optionally include one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

Example 15 is a method to signal a packet configuration performed by a high-efficiency (HE) wireless local area network (WLAN) (HEW) device. The method may include generating a HE packet comprising a legacy signal field (L-SIG) followed by one or more HE signal fields; configuring the L-SIG to signal to a HEW device a packet configuration of the HE packet; and transmitting the HE packet to the HEW device.

In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 can optionally include where configuring may further include configuring a length field of the L-SIG to be a one or two modulo of three (MOD 3) to indicate a first HE packet configuration and a second HE packet configuration, respectively.

In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 15 can optionally include where the length field of the L-SIG indicates that the HE packet configuration includes a portion that has a one-quarter size subcarrier.

In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 15 can optionally include where configuring may further include configuring a length field of the L-SIG to be mod (LENGTH, 3)=1 or mod (LENGTH, 3)=2, where the L-SIG being mod (LENGTH, 3)=1 indicates a first type of HE packet configuration and where the L-SIG being mod (LENGTH, 3)=2 indicates a second type of HE packet configuration.

Example 19 is a high-efficiency (HE) station including circuitry. The circuitry may be configured to receive a packet from a HE master station, the packet including at least a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and determine whether the L-SIG indicates that the packet is can be a HE packet; defer based on information in the L-SIG if the L-SIG indicates that the packet is not the HE-packet; process at least one of the following group: a first HE-SIG and a second HE-SIG to determine whether the packet is the HE-packet; and process the packet as the HE-packet if the packet is determined to be the HE-packet.

In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 20 can optionally include where the L-SIG indicates that the packet is an HE-packet if a length field of the L-SIG is not a modulo of three (MOD 3).

In Example 21, the subject matter of Examples 19 can optionally include where the packet includes at least one HE-SIG; and where the circuitry is further configured to process the at least one HE-SIGs as a one quarter carrier size signal if the L-SIG indicates that the packet is the HE-packet.

In Example 22, the subject matter of any of Examples 19-21 can optionally include where the circuitry is configured to operate in accordance with orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and in accordance with Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax.

In Example 23, the subject matter of any of Examples 19-22 can optionally include memory and one or more antennas coupled to the circuitry.

Example 24 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors of a high-efficiency (HE) wireless local-area network (WLAN) (HEW) master station. The operations are to configure the one or more processors to cause the HEW master station to: generate a HE packet comprising a legacy signal field (L-SIG) followed by one or more HE signal fields; and configure the L-SIG to signal to a second HEW device a packet configuration of the HE packet.

In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 can optionally include where the operations are further configured to cause the HEW master station to configure a length field of the L-SIG to be a one or two modulo of three (MOD 3) to indicate a first HE packet configuration or a second HE packet configuration, respectively.