Patent Description:
In a wireless network, wireless devices can be deployed that have different capabilities. Wireless devices can include access points (APs) as well as other electronic devices that are able to perform wireless communications. Some wireless devices may support SOMA communications, and other wireless devices may not support SOMA communications. Incompatibilities in the capabilities of different wireless devices may cause communication failures or errors between such wireless devices. It is desired that techniques or mechanisms be provided to achieve compatible SOMA communications. <CIT> discloses a method for channel access in a wireless local area network. The method includes: transmitting, a plurality of Request To Send (RTS) frames over a plurality of subchannels to a receiver, each RTS frame being transmitted over each of the plurality of subchannels; receiving at least one Clear To Send (CTS) frame over at least one subchannel among the plurality of subchannels from the receiver; each CTS frame being transmitted over each of the at least one subchannel, transmitting a data unit to the receiver. The data unit includes at least one data frame. The at least one data frame is transmitted over at least one selected subchannel among the at least one subchannel, each data frame being transmitted over each selected subchannel. <CIT> discloses a method for operating a transmitting device using semi-orthogonal multiple access (SOMA) which includes determining power allocations and sub-quadrature amplitude modulation (sub-QAM) allocations for a first receiving device and a second receiving device in accordance with channel information associated with the first receiving device and the second receiving device, and transmitting information about a first power allocation for the first receiving device, and a first sub-QAM allocation for the first receiving device to the first receiving device. <NPL>) an overview of HE frame exchange sequences. <CIT> discloses: A method for operating a transmitting device using semi-orthogonal multiple access (SOMA) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes determining a first quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) bit allocation, a first coding rate, and a first SOMA group for a first receiving device and a second QAM bit allocation, a second coding rate, and a second SOMA group for a second receiving device in accordance with channel information associated with the first receiving device and the second receiving device, generating a frame including indicators of the first and second QAM bit allocations, the first and second coding rates, and the first and second SOMA groups, and sending the frame to the first receiving device and the second receiving device.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, wireless devices are able to exchange capabilities information with other wireless devices for indicating support for SOMA communications over a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). A first wireless device can send a capabilities information element to a second wireless device. The capabilities information element includes an indicator settable to a value that indicates support by the first wireless device for SOMA communications over the wireless network. The first wireless device can further receive, from the second wireless device, a capabilities information element including an indicator settable to a value that indicates support by the second wireless device for SOMA communications over the wireless network. Based on the exchanged capabilities information elements, the first and second wireless devices can communicate data using SOMA communications. By exchanging such capabilities information, a wireless device can confirm that another wireless device supports SOMA communications before initiating such SOMA communications. In this manner, communication errors due to incompatibilities between wireless devices can be avoided or reduced.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, recipient wireless devices that receive respective data from a sender wireless device are able to send acknowledgments of the respective data to the sender wireless device. The acknowledgments are sent in corresponding resource units of the wireless network. The resource units to be used by the recipient wireless devices to send the acknowledgments can be identified in control information sent by the sender wireless device to the recipient wireless devices. For example, the control information can be included in a header of a data frame or can be included in a trigger frame.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first wireless device comprising a network interface to communicate over a wireless network, and at least one processor configured to send a capabilities information element comprising at least one indicator. The at least one indicator has a first value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of a single user physical layer conformance procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (SU PPDU) in a semi-orthogonal multiple access (SOMA) communication over the wireless network, wherein SOMA enables multiple wireless devices to use superposed constellations to share a wireless spectrum, the superposed constellations of SOMA are formed from constituent constellations that use different modulation layers, and sub-symbols of different modulation layers have different decoding reliabilities, and a second value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of a multiple user PPDU (MU PPDU) in a SOMA communication over the wireless network.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of a first wireless device, comprising sending a capabilities information element comprising at least one indicator. The at least one indicator has a first value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of an SU PPDU in a SOMA communication over the wireless network, and a second value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of an MU PPDU in a SOMA communication over the wireless network.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the indicator has a third value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of both an SU PPDU and an MU PPDU in a SOMA communication over the wireless network.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the at least one processor is configured to receive, from a second wireless device, a capabilities information element comprising at least one indicator set to the first value or the second value, and perform SOMA communications with the second wireless device over the wireless network using an SU PPDU or an MU PPDU according to the value of the at least one indicator included in the capabilities information element sent by the first wireless device, and the value of the at least one indicator included in the capabilities information element received from the second wireless device.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the capabilities information element comprises a Medium Access Control (MAC) capabilities information element.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the at least one indicator when set to another value indicates lack of support by the wireless device for SOMA communications over the wireless network.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the capabilities information element further comprises at least a second indicator that specifies a power allocation factor that indicates an allocation of power between constituent constellations that are superposed to form a modulation constellation comprising constellation points representing respective data values communicated using SOMA.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the at least the second indicator is settable to one of a plurality of values to indicate corresponding different power allocation factors, each power allocator factor of the different power allocation factors indicating a respective allocation of power between constituent constellations that are superposed to form a modulation constellation comprising constellation points representing respective data values communicated using SOMA.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, an SU PPDU when used for a SOMA communication occupies an entire channel bandwidth of one transmission resource of the wireless network for carrying data to respective recipient wireless devices, wherein the SU PPDU carries data modulated using a first modulation layer associated with a first constituent constellation for a first recipient wireless device, and the SU PPDU carries data modulated using a second modulation layer associated with a second constituent constellation for a second recipient wireless device, and wherein the first and second constituent constellations are superposed to form a superposed constellation.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, an MU PPDU when used for a SOMA communication occupies respective one or more resource units of a transmission resource of the wireless network for carrying data to respective recipient wireless devices, the one or more resource units reserved for the SOMA communications, wherein the MU PPDU carries data modulated using a first modulation layer associated with a first constituent constellation for a first recipient wireless device, and the MU PPDU carries data modulated using a second modulation layer associated with a second constituent constellation for a second recipient wireless device, and wherein the first and second constituent constellations are superposed to form a superposed constellation.

Optionally ,in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the at least one processor is configured to send respective data using SOMA communications to a plurality of recipient wireless devices, and receive acknowledgments of the respective data from the plurality of recipient wireless devices.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the at least one processor is configured to send, to the plurality of recipient wireless devices, control information identifying resource units to be used by the plurality of recipient wireless devices in transmitting the acknowledgments to the first wireless device.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the control information is included in a header carried by a data frame sent to the plurality of recipient wireless devices.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the control information is included in a trigger frame to cause transmission of trigger-based data frames from the plurality of recipient wireless devices, the acknowledgments included in the trigger-based data frames.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the respective data is sent using an SU PPDU to the plurality of recipient wireless devices, and the received acknowledgments are of the SU PPDU.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the respective data is sent using an MU PPDU to the plurality of recipient wireless devices, and the received acknowledgments are of the MU PPDU.

Optionally, in any of the preceding aspects, in another implementation, the control information is included in a header carried by the SU PPDU.

Also, the term "includes" , "including" , "comprises" , "comprising" , "have" , or "having" when used in this disclosure specifies the presence of the stated elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of other elements.

Semi-Orthogonal Multiple Access (SOMA) refers to a communication technique that uses hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit information using different modulation layers. In some cases, the different modulation layers can be assigned to different wireless devices.

In SOMA, superposed symbol constellations are formed from constituent constellations that use respective different modulation layers. The symbols of a superposed symbol constellation include sub-symbols of a first modulation layer, sub-symbols of a second modulation layer, and so forth. The sub-symbols of the different modulation layers have different decoding reliabilities. Sub-symbols of the first modulation layer with a lower decoding reliability can be used for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) channels between wireless devices. Sub-symbols of the second modulation layer with higher decoding reliability can be used for lower SNR channels between wireless devices.

In some examples, SOMA can employ quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). <FIG> shows an example wireless network <NUM>. <FIG> shows a QAM constellation that can be used by wireless devices to communicate over the wireless network <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM>, which includes <NUM> constellation points (represented by respective dots in <FIG>). Each constellation point in the <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM> represents 4bits, e.g., i<NUM>i<NUM>q<NUM>q<NUM>. The i bits (along the i-axis) are the in-phase components, and the q bits (along the q-axis) are the quadrature-phase components. When the constellation points are mapped using a Gray code, for example, constellation point <NUM> represents value <NUM>,constellation point <NUM> represents value <NUM>, constellation point 106represents value <NUM>, constellation point <NUM> represents value <NUM>, and so forth. Adjacent constellation points differ by a single bit. For example, constellation points <NUM> and <NUM> differ at bit i<NUM>, constellation points <NUM> and <NUM> differ at bit q<NUM>, and constellation points <NUM> and <NUM> differ at bit i<NUM>.

In the <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM>, bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> are the most reliable bits, and bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> are the least reliable bits.

In a <NUM>-QAM constellation, each constellation point represents <NUM> bits (i<NUM>i<NUM>i<NUM>q<NUM>q<NUM>q<NUM>). In the <NUM>-QAM constellation, bitsi<NUM> and q<NUM> are the most reliable bits, bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> are the least reliable bits, and bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>have intermediate reliability between bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> and bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>.

The example wireless network <NUM> of <FIG> includes an AP <NUM> that is able to communicate wirelessly with electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. The AP <NUM> and the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are examples of wireless devices that are able to perform wireless communications.

In some examples, the AP <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are able to communicate according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> group of standards. In such examples, the wireless network <NUM> is referred to as a wireless local area network (WLAN).

In other examples, the AP <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> can communicate according to other standards, such as wireless standards including a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard as promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In further examples, a wireless standard can include a Fifth Generation (<NUM>) wireless standard. In a wireless network, an AP is referred to as a base station, such as an Evolved NodeB (eNB) for LTE.

Although just one AP <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, it is noted that the wireless network <NUM> can include multiple APs that define respective coverage areas for communicating with electronic devices. Additionally, more than two electronic devices are able to communicate with the one or more APs.

Examples of the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> include any or some combination of the following: a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device (e.g., a sensor, a camera, a thermostat, a household appliance, etc.), a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, smart eyeglasses, a head-mounted device, etc.), a vehicle, server computers, storage devices, communication nodes, and so forth.

In the example of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> is in closer proximity to the AP <NUM> than the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, because wireless signals between the AP <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> travel a shorter distance than wireless signals between the AP <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>, the SNR of a communication channel between the AP <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> can be higher than the SNR of a communication channel between the AP <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>.

It is noted that the SNR of a communication channel between wireless devices can be impacted by other factors, such as presence of obstacles between the wireless devices, presence of interference sources in the proximity of the wireless devices, and so forth.

When SOMA is used for communications between the AP <NUM> and the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, the more reliable bits of a QAM constellation are allocated to the electronic device (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) with a lower SNR communication channel, and the less reliable bits are allocated to the electronic device (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) with a higher SNR communication channel. The assignment of the more reliable bits of the QAM constellation to the lower SNR communication channel increases the probability of successful decoding of data communicated over the lower SNR communication channel.

In <NUM>-QAM constellation, bits i<NUM>i<NUM>q<NUM>q<NUM> form a symbol <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). For SOMA communication, the symbol <NUM> can be divided into a first sub-symbol that includes bitsi<NUM> and q<NUM>, and a second sub-symbol that includes bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>. The first sub-symbol (i<NUM> and q<NUM>) is used in a first constituent QAM layer, and the second sub-symbol (i<NUM> and q<NUM>) is used in a second constituent QAM layer. The first constituent QAM layer and the second constituent QAM layer form a superposed constellation for SOMA. The first constituent QAM layer (based on the more reliable bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>) is used to modulate data transmitted on the higher SNR communication channel between the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> and the AP <NUM>, and the second constituent QAM layer (based on the less reliable bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>) is used to modulate data transmitted on the lower SNR communication channel between the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> and the AP <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> (the least reliable bits) of the <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM> are assigned to the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> (which has a higher SNR communication channel to the AP <NUM>), and bits i<NUM> and q<NUM> (the most reliable bits) of the <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM> are assigned to the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> (which has a lower SNR communication channel to the AP <NUM>).

To ensure compatibility between wireless devices when performing SOMA communications, each wireless device can be provided with a SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE). For example, the AP <NUM> includes a SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> includes a SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>-<NUM>, and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> includes a SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>-<NUM>.

As used here, an "engine" can refer to a hardware processing circuit, which can include any or some combination of a microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, or another hardware processing circuit. Alternatively, an "engine" can refer to a combination of a hardware processing circuit and machine-readable instructions (software and/or firmware) executable on the hardware processing circuit.

The SOMA capability advertising engine(SCAE) <NUM> of the AP <NUM> is able to send, in a capabilities information element, an indicator to indicate support by the AP <NUM> for SOMA communications over the wireless network <NUM>. Similarly, each SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> of the respective electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> is able to send, in a capabilities information element, an indicator to indicate support by the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> for SOMA communications over the wireless network <NUM>.

In some examples, the SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> can be part of a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the respective wireless device <NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>. The MAC layer communicates data in MAC data frames over a network.

In examples in which the SOMA capability advertising engine (SCAE) is part of the MAC layer, the capabilities information element used to communicate the indicator of support for SOMA communications can be a MAC information element. The capabilities information element can be included in a beacon, a message frame associated with establishing an association between a wireless device and an AP, or another control message.

In some examples, the SOMA indicator can be included in a capabilities information element modified from a capabilities information element defined by current standards. In alternative examples, the SOMA indicator can be included in a different capabilities information element, which can be newly defined (i.e., does not exist in current standards but which may or may not exist in future standards).

The AP <NUM> further includes an acknowledgment control engine (ACE) <NUM> that is able to control how the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are to acknowledge receipt of data frames sent by the AP <NUM> using SOMA communications. For example, the acknowledgment control engine (ACE) <NUM> can send control information to the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> specifying resources to use for acknowledgments of data frames received from the AP <NUM>. Based on the control information from the acknowledgment control engine (ACE) <NUM>, an acknowledgment transmission engine (ATE) <NUM>-<NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> and an acknowledgment transmission engine (ATE) <NUM>-<NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> can send acknowledgments in respective resources identified by the control information. Details regarding the acknowledgments of data frames from the AP <NUM> are discussed further below in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a portion of a capabilities information element <NUM> that includes a SOMA indicator <NUM> and a physical layer conformance procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) type indicator <NUM>.

In the example shown, the SOMA indicator <NUM> can be implemented using two bits (b<NUM> and b<NUM>). Similarly, the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> can be implemented using two bits (b<NUM> and b<NUM>). The PPDU type indicator <NUM> is discussed further below.

In other examples, the SOMA indicator <NUM> and/or the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> can be implemented using a different number (one or more) of bits. Also, although the SOMA indicator <NUM> and the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> are shown as being implemented as part of the same capabilities information element <NUM>, in other examples, the SOMA indicator <NUM> and the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> can be part of different information elements.

Table <NUM> below provides an example mapping between different values of the SOMA indicator <NUM> and respective indicated SOMA capabilities. A value of <NUM> of the SOMA indicator <NUM> indicates lack of support for SOMA communications by the wireless device that transmitted the SOMA indicator <NUM>. A value of <NUM> of the SOMA indicator <NUM> indicates support for SOMA communications with a power allocation factor having a first value,α<NUM>. The SOMA indicator <NUM> set to the value <NUM> indicates support for SOMA communications with a power allocation factor having a second value, α<NUM>. The SOMA indicator <NUM> set to the value <NUM> indicates support for SOMA communications with a power allocation factor having a third value, α<NUM>. The SOMA indicator <NUM> set to <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> is exchanged between an electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> and the AP <NUM>, to allow the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> and the AP <NUM> to agree to use of SOMA communications with the indicated one of the power allocation factor values.

In some examples, it is assumed that the values of α<NUM>, α<NUM>, and α<NUM> are different from one another.

In other examples, different values of the SOMA indicator <NUM> can map to other SOMA capabilities.

A power allocation factor indicates an allocation of power between constituent constellations that are superposed to form a modulation constellation, such as the <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Use of the power allocation factor enables adaptive power control to control the power allocations to each constituent constellation.

The <NUM>-QAM constellation <NUM> of <FIG> includes four quadrants Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. Each quadrant includes a respective <NUM>-symbol sub-constellation. For a given power allocation factor α, in quadrant Q1, the amplitude level from the constellation origin <NUM> to the center <NUM> of the sub-constellation of thequadrant Q1 is <MAT>, and the amplitude level from the center <NUM> of the sub-constellation of the quadrant Q1 to the constellation point <NUM> (representing value <NUM>) is <MAT>. Accordingly, increasing the power allocation factor α results in a greater power allocation for the constituent constellation associated with bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>, and results in lower power allocation for the constellation associated with bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>.

Thus, increasing the power allocation factor α increases the reliability of the least reliable bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>, and decreases the reliability of the most reliable bits i<NUM> and q<NUM>. Decreasing the power allocation factor α will have the opposite effect.

In accordance with further implementations of the present disclosure, the PPDU type indicator <NUM> of <FIG> is used for indicating a type of PPDU used with SOMA communications.

A PPDU is a data unit transmitted by a physical (PHY) layer of a wireless device. Additional protocol layers can be provided above the PHY layer, including a MAC layer, and other layers.

A PPDU includes a preamble and one or more data fields. A data field contains a data payload and header information of one or more higher-level protocol layers (e.g., a MAC layer) above the PHY layer. The preamble includes control information associated with the PPDU. In some examples, further details of the preamble of a PPDU are described in IEEE <NUM>.

Although reference is made to IEEE <NUM>. 11ax PPDUs, it is noted that SOMA communications can use other types of data units in other examples.

As provided by IEEE <NUM>. 11ax, a PPDU can be according to one of various different types. In some examples, two types of PPDUs can be indicated by the PPDU type indicator <NUM>. A first type of PPDU is referred to as a single user PPDU (SU PPDU), and a second type of PPDU is referred to as a multiple user (MU) PPDU (MU PPDU).

According to IEEE <NUM>. 11ax, a resource unit (RU) includes a group of subcarriers that can be allocated to a device for communications among wireless devices. As used here, the term "device" that is allocated communication resources can refer to a WLAN station (STA) or other type of electronic device. The different subcarriers of an RU have different frequencies. For communications using MU PPDUs, a channel, such as an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) channel, is subdivided into multiple RUs. Each RU is a sub-channel of the channel. MU PPDUs can be communicated in respective different RUs for respective devices. Each RU is assigned to a respective single device.

When communicating data using an SU PPDU, all subcarriers of a channel are assigned to a single RU for communicating the SU PPDU. When communicating an SU PPDU, a channel, such as an OFDMA channel, is not divided into multiple RUs as would be the case when communicating MU PPDUs. More generally, an SU PPDU occupies an entire channel bandwidth of one transmission resource (e.g., an IEEE <NUM>. 11ax channel)used to communicate data over a wireless network.

IEEE <NUM>. 11ax specifies that an SU PPDU is to communicate data to a single recipient wireless device. However, when an SU PPDU is used with SOMA in some implementations of the present disclosure, the SU PPDU can be used to carry data to multiple recipient wireless devices by using different modulation layers assigned to different recipient wireless devices.

Table <NUM> below illustrates an example of a mapping between different values of the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> and the respective PPDU capability.

The PPDU Type indicator <NUM> being set to <NUM> indicates no support for SOMA communications. The PPDU Type indicator <NUM> being set to <NUM> indicates that a wireless device that sent the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> is capable of supporting SU PPDUs for SOMA communications. The PPDU Type indicator <NUM> being set to <NUM> indicates that a wireless device that sent the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> is capable of supporting MU PPDUs for SOMA communications. The PPDU Type indicator <NUM> being set to <NUM> indicates that a wireless device that sent the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> is capable of supporting both SU PPDUs and MU PPDUs for SOMA communications.

In other examples, other mappings between values of the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> and other PPDU capabilities are possible.

The AP <NUM> and the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> can each send the PPDU Type indicator <NUM> set to a value for indicating the PPDU type supported by the respective device. Once the AP <NUM> and an electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> has exchanged information indicating the type of PPDU supported, the AP <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> can perform SOMA communications using the supported PPDU type(s).

<FIG> is a flow diagram that shows a sender wireless device <NUM> sending an SU PPDU <NUM> to corresponding recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In some examples, the sender wireless device <NUM> can be an AP, such as the AP <NUM> of <FIG>. In other examples, the sender wireless device <NUM> can be a different type of wireless device.

The recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> can be the electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, of <FIG>.

Although <FIG> shows an example in which an SU PPDU is sent to two recipient wireless devices, in other examples, an SU PPDU can be sent to more than two recipient wireless devices.

The SU PPDU <NUM> carries data modulated using a first modulation layer (associated with a first constituent constellation) for the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM>, and carries data modulated using a second modulation layer (associated with a second constituent constellation) for the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM>. The first and second constituent constellations are superposed to form a superposed constellation, such as that shown in <FIG>.

The SU PPDU <NUM> includes a preamble <NUM> and one or more data fields <NUM>. The one or more data fields <NUM> carry payload data. The preamble <NUM> can be considered a header of the SU PPDU <NUM>. The preamble <NUM> can include an information element that indicates a PPDU type (which in this example is the SU PPDU type).

The one or more data fields <NUM> of the SU PPDU <NUM> can carry a data payload. In addition, the SU PPDU <NUM> can include headers of upper protocol layers, including a MAC layer. Thus, a MAC header can be included in the SU PPDU <NUM>. The MAC header can include information regarding RUs to be used by the respective recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> to send acknowledgements of the SU PPDU <NUM>. If a recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> successfully receives the SU PPDU <NUM>, the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> sends an acknowledgement to the sender wireless device <NUM> in the allocated RU.

In examples where the sender wireless device <NUM> is the AP <NUM> of <FIG>, the information regarding RUs to be used by respective recipient wireless device to send acknowledgements can be provided by the acknowledgement control engine (ACE) <NUM> for inclusion in a MAC header carried by the SU PPDU <NUM>.

The information regarding RUs included in the MAC header can identify the RUs to be used for the acknowledgments. Different RUs can be identified using respective identifiers of the RUs. An identifier of an RU can also be referred to as an RU index.

As further shown in <FIG>,in response to receiving the SU PPDU <NUM>, the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> sends an acknowledgement <NUM>-<NUM> to the sender wireless device <NUM>. Similarly, in response to receiving the SU PPDU <NUM>, the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> sends acknowledgement <NUM>-<NUM> to the sender wireless device <NUM>. The acknowledgments <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are sent in parallel in respective RUs identified in the MAC header carried by the SU PPDU <NUM>. In examples where the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are the respective electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, the acknowledgements <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> can be sent by the acknowledgement transmission engines (ATEs) <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> shows an alternative example in which the sender wireless device <NUM> sends an SU PPDU <NUM> to multiple recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, instead of including information regarding RUs for acknowledgments in a MAC header carried by the SU PPDU <NUM>, the sender wireless device <NUM> further sends a trigger frame <NUM> that carries control information that identifies RUs to be used for acknowledgments. The recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> use the identified RUs to send corresponding acknowledgements <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in parallel to the sender wireless device <NUM>. The acknowledgements <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> acknowledge the SU PPDU <NUM> sent by the sender wireless device <NUM> to the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In examples where the sender wireless device <NUM> is the AP <NUM> of <FIG>, the control information that identifies RUs to be used for acknowledgements can be provided by the acknowledgment control engine (ACE) <NUM> for inclusion in the trigger frame <NUM>.

In some examples, the trigger frame <NUM> is according to IEEE <NUM>. A trigger frame is used to trigger a recipient wireless device to transmit in an uplink direction to the sender wireless device. The trigger frame can identify recipient wireless devices that are to participate in uplink transmissions.

In some examples, the control information including the information regarding the RUs to be used for acknowledgments can be included in an Aggregated Control (A-Control) subfield in a header of the trigger frame <NUM>. The A-Control subfield is discussed further in IEEE <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the acknowledgments <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are carried in respective trigger-based (TB) PPDUs, which are PPDUs sent by the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in response to the trigger frame <NUM>. More specifically, in some examples, the A-Control subfield contains triggered response scheduling (TRS) information for soliciting TB PPDUs following the SU PPDU.

The TB PPDUs carrying the acknowledgments <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are communicated in respective RUs identified by the control information in the trigger frame <NUM>. In examples where the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are the respective electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, the acknowledgments <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> can be sent by the acknowledgment transmission engines (ATEs) <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> shows an example where the sender wireless device <NUM> sends an MU PPDU <NUM> to the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. SOMA can be applied to each of one or more RUs (reserved for SOMA communications)used to communicate the MU PPDU <NUM>. An RU reserved by a wireless network for SOMA communications is an RU allocated by a wireless network for wireless devices to use for SOMA communications. An RU reserved for SOMA communications is not used by wireless devices for any other type of communications, such as OFDMA communications. SOMA communications are performed by wireless devices in the one or more RUs reserved by the wireless network for SOMA communications, and are not performed by wireless devices in RU(s) reserved by the wireless device for other type(s) of communications. Similar to the SU PPDU of <FIG> or <FIG>, theMU PPDU <NUM> carries data modulated using a first modulation layer (associated with a first constituent constellation) for the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM>, and carries data modulated using a second modulation layer (associated with a second constituent constellation) for the recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM>.

To acknowledge the MU PPDU <NUM>, each recipient wireless device <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> is able to access information identifying RUs to be used to send acknowledgments. The information identifying RUs can be included in a MAC header carried in the data fields of the MU PPDU <NUM>. In alternative examples, information identifying RUs to be used to send acknowledgements can be carried in a trigger frame.

In examples where the recipient wireless devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are the respective electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, the acknowledgments <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are sent by the respective acknowledgment transmission engines (ATEs) <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a wireless device <NUM> according to some examples. The wireless device <NUM> includes one or more hardware processors <NUM>. A hardware processor can include a microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, or another hardware processing circuit.

The wireless device <NUM> also includes a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium <NUM>, which can store data and machine-readable instructions that are executable on the one or more hardware processors <NUM>.

In addition, the wireless device includes a network protocol stack <NUM> (an example of a network interface) that includes various protocol layers, including a PHY layer, a MAC layer, and other protocol layers. The network protocol stack <NUM> can include SOMA-related control logic <NUM>, implemented with a hardware processing circuit or a combination of a hardware processing circuit and machine-readable instructions. The SOMA-related control logic <NUM> can perform tasks associated with advertising SOMA capabilities, such as those of the SOMA capabilities advertising engine (SCAE) <NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, tasks associated with controlling or transmitting acknowledgments of SU PPDUs or MU PPDUs, and so forth.

Claim 1:
A method of a first wireless device, comprising:
sending a first capabilities information element (<NUM>) comprising at least one indicator having:
a first value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of a single user physical layer conformance procedure, PLCP, protocol data unit, SU PPDU (<NUM>, <NUM>), in a semi-orthogonal multiple access, SOMA, communication over the wireless network (<NUM>), wherein SOMA enables multiple wireless devices to use superposed constellations to share a wireless spectrum, the superposed constellations of SOMA are formed from constituent constellations that use different modulation layers, and sub-symbols of different modulation layers have different decoding reliabilities, and
a second value to indicate support by the first wireless device for use of a multiple user PPDU, MU PPDU (<NUM>), in a SOMA communication over the wireless network (<NUM>).