Patent Description:
Embodiments described herein generally relate to multi-user (MU) wireless communication.

A wireless communication network in a millimeter-wave band may provide high-speed data access for users of wireless communication devices.

According to some Specifications and/or Protocols, devices may be configured to perform all transmissions and receptions over a single channel bandwidth (BW).

Some Specifications, e.g., an IEEE <NUM>. 11ad Specification, may be configured to support a Single User (SU) system, in which a Station (STA) cannot transmit frames to more than a single STA at a time. <CIT> describes a wireless communication system for solving Peak to Average Power Ratios commonly encountered in OFDM systems, by substituting OFDA with LFDM. It is disclosed a transmission scheme in which UEs with high SNRs utilize a multi-carrier multiplexing scheme, such as, OFDM, while UEs with low SNRs utilize a single-carrier multiplexing scheme, such as, LFDM.

<CIT> describes a system for configuring an M2M supportive WLAN system that uses a frequency band so as not to overlap the frequency band supported by the existing WLAN system. Data to be transmitted to each STA may be transmitted through spatial streams different from each other. It discloses a PPDU that includes an L-STF field, an L-LTF field, a VHT-SIGA field, a VHT-STF field, a VHT-LTF field, a VHT-SIGB field, and a data field.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

The claimed invention corresponds to the embodiment of <FIG>.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units and/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining", "establishing", "analyzing", "checking", or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) of a computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories or other information storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms "plurality" and "a plurality", as used herein, include, for example, "multiple" or "two or more". For example, "a plurality of items" includes two or more items.

References to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "demonstrative embodiment", "various embodiments" etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one embodiment" does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third" etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices and systems, for example, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Device (MD), a wireless station (STA), a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a sensor device, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumer device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communication station, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP), a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device, an audio device, an audio-video (A/V) device, a wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing IEEE <NUM> standards (IEEE <NUM>-<NUM>, IEEE Standard for Information technology--Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks--Specific requirements Part <NUM>: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications, March <NUM>, <NUM>; IEEE802.11ac-<NUM> ("IEEE P802.11ac-<NUM>, IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific Requirements - Part <NUM>: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications - Amendment <NUM>: Enhancements for Very High Throughput for Operation in Bands below <NUM>", December, <NUM>); IEEE <NUM>. 11ad ("IEEE P802.11ad-<NUM>, IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific Requirements - Part <NUM>: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications - Amendment <NUM>: Enhancements for Very High Throughput in the <NUM> Band", <NUM> December, <NUM>); IEEE-<NUM>. 11REVmc ("IEEE <NUM>-REVmc™/D3. <NUM>, June <NUM> draft standard for Information technology - Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks Specific requirements; Part <NUM>: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specification"); IEEE802. <NUM>-ay (P802.11ay Standard for Information Technology--Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems Local and Metropolitan Area Networks--Specific Requirements Part <NUM>: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications--Amendment: Enhanced Throughput for Operation in License-Exempt Bands Above <NUM>)) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) specifications (Wireless Gigabit Alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHY Specification Version <NUM>, April <NUM>, Final specification) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Alliance (WFA) Peer-to-Peer (P2P) specifications (including "WiFi Peer-to-Peer (P2P) technical specification, version <NUM>, August <NUM>, <NUM>") and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing cellular specifications and/or protocols, e.g., 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are part of the above networks, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates a GPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFID element or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver or device, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, a Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a device having one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multistandard radio devices or systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a Smartphone, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types of wireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, Radio Frequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM), Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), FDM Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA <NUM>, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, Fifth Generation (<NUM>), or Sixth Generation (<NUM>) mobile networks, 3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systems and/or networks.

The term "wireless device", as used herein, includes, for example, a device capable of wireless communication, a communication device capable of wireless communication, a communication station capable of wireless communication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wireless communication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, a wireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integrated with a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In some demonstrative embodiments, the term "wireless device" may optionally include a wireless service.

The term "communicating" as used herein with respect to a communication signal includes transmitting the communication signal and/or receiving the communication signal. For example, a communication unit, which is capable of communicating a communication signal, may include a transmitter to transmit the communication signal to at least one other communication unit, and/or a communication receiver to receive the communication signal from at least one other communication unit. The verb communicating may be used to refer to the action of transmitting or the action of receiving. In one example, the phrase "communicating a signal" may refer to the action of transmitting the signal by a first device, and may not necessarily include the action of receiving the signal by a second device. In another example, the phrase "communicating a signal" may refer to the action of receiving the signal by a first device, and may not necessarily include the action of transmitting the signal by a second device.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN, e.g., a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network. Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any other suitable wireless communication network, for example, a wireless area network, a "piconet", a WPAN, a WVAN and the like.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a wireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of <NUM>. However, other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any other suitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, an Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequency band of between <NUM> and <NUM>, a frequency band above <NUM>, a frequency band below <NUM>, e.g., a Sub <NUM> (S1G) band, a <NUM> band, a <NUM> band, a WLAN frequency band, a WPAN frequency band, a frequency band according to the WGA specification, and the like.

The term "antenna", as used herein, may include any suitable configuration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In some embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receive functionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receive functionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receive elements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna, a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or the like.

The phrases "directional multi-gigabit (DMG)" and "directional band" (DBand), as used herein, may relate to a frequency band wherein the Channel starting frequency is above <NUM>. In one example, DMG communications may involve one or more directional links to communicate at a rate of multiple gigabits per second, for example, at least <NUM> Gigabit per second, e.g., <NUM> Gigabit per second, or any other rate.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented by a DMG STA (also referred to as a "mmWave STA (mSTA)"), which may include for example, a STA having a radio transmitter, which is capable of operating on a channel that is within the DMG band. The DMG STA may perform other additional or alternative functionality. Other embodiments may be implemented by any other apparatus, device and/or station.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which schematically illustrates a system <NUM>, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in <FIG>, in some demonstrative embodiments, system <NUM> may include one or more wireless communication devices. For example, system <NUM> may include a wireless communication device <NUM>, a wireless communication device <NUM>, a wireless communication device <NUM>, and/or one more other devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may include a mobile device or a non-mobile, e.g., a static, device.

For example, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may include, for example, a UE, an MD, a STA, an AP, a PC, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, an Ultrabook™ computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a sensor device, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phone functionalities with PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relatively small computing device, a non-desktop computer, a "Carry Small Live Large" (CSLL) device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a Mobile Internet Device (MID), an "Origami" device or computing device, a device that supports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), a context-aware device, a video device, an audio device, an A/V device, a Set-Top-Box (STB), a Blu-ray disc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player, a High Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVD recorder, a HD DVD recorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a broadcast HD receiver, a video source, an audio source, a video sink, an audio sink, a stereo tuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a flat panel display, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), a digital audio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier, a gaming device, a data source, a data sink, a Digital Still camera (DSC), a media player, a Smartphone, a television, a music player, or the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device <NUM> may include, for example, one or more of a processor <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, an output unit <NUM>, a memory unit <NUM>, and/or a storage unit <NUM>; and/or devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include, for example, one or more of a processor <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, an output unit <NUM>, a memory unit <NUM>, and/or a storage unit <NUM>. Devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may optionally include other suitable hardware components and/or software components. In some demonstrative embodiments, some or all of the components of one or more of devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be enclosed in a common housing or packaging, and may be interconnected or operably associated using one or more wired or wireless links. In other embodiments, components of one or more of devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, processor <NUM> and/or processor <NUM> may include, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multiple-core processor, a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality of processors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits, circuitry, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), an Application-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitable multi-purpose or specific processor or controller. Processor <NUM> executes instructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) of device <NUM> and/or of one or more suitable applications. Processor <NUM> executes instructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) of device <NUM> and/or of one or more suitable applications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input unit <NUM> and/or input unit <NUM> may include, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch-screen, a touch-pad, a track-ball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitable pointing device or input device. Output unit <NUM> and/or output unit <NUM> may include, for example, a monitor, a screen, a touch-screen, a flat panel display, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, a plasma display unit, one or more audio speakers or earphones, or other suitable output devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, memory unit <NUM> and/or memory unit <NUM> may include, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memory unit, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit <NUM> and/or storage unit <NUM> includes, for example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable or non-removable storage units. Memory unit <NUM> and/or storage unit <NUM>, for example, may store data processed by device <NUM>. Memory unit <NUM> and/or storage unit <NUM>, for example, may store data processed by device <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be capable of communicating content, data, information and/or signals via a wireless medium (WM) <NUM>. In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless medium <NUM> may include, for example, a radio channel, a cellular channel, an RF channel, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channel, an IR channel, a Bluetooth (BT) channel, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Channel, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM <NUM> may include a directional channel. For example, WM <NUM> may include a millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless communication channel.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM <NUM> may include a DMG channel. In other embodiments, WM <NUM> may include any other additional or alternative directional channel.

In other embodiments, WM <NUM> may include any other type of channel over any other frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may perform the functionality of one or more wireless stations, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may perform the functionality of one or more DMG stations.

In other embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may perform the functionality of any other wireless device and/or station, e.g., a WLAN STA, a WiFi STA, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may include one or more radios including circuitry and/or logic to perform wireless communication between devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or one or more other wireless communication devices. For example, device <NUM> may include a radio <NUM>, and/or devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include a radio <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include one or more wireless receivers (Rx) including circuitry and/or logic to receive wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, and/or radio <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include one or more wireless transmitters (Tx) including circuitry and/or logic to send wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio <NUM> may include a transmitter <NUM>, and/or radio <NUM> may include a transmitter <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include circuitry, logic, modulation elements, demodulation elements, amplifiers, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, filters, and/or the like. For example, radios <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include or may be implemented as part of a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC), and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include, or may be associated with, one or more antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM>, respectively.

In one example, device <NUM> may include a single antenna <NUM>. In other example, device <NUM> may include two or more antennas <NUM>.

In one example, device <NUM> and/or device <NUM> may include a single antenna <NUM>. In another example, device <NUM> and/or device <NUM> may include two or more antennas <NUM>.

Antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include any type of antennas suitable for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks, frames, transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data. For example, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include any suitable configuration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include, for example, antennas suitable for directional communication, e.g., using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include a phased array antenna, a multiple element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or the like. In some embodiments, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may implement transmit and receive functionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may implement transmit and receive functionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receive elements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include a directional antenna, which may be steered to a plurality of beam directions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include a directional antenna, which may be steered to a plurality of beam directions. For example, antenna <NUM> may be steered to a plurality of beam directions <NUM>, and/or antenna <NUM> may be steered to a plurality of beam directions <NUM>. For example, device <NUM> may transmit a directional transmission <NUM> to device <NUM>, e.g., via a direction <NUM>, and/or device <NUM> may transmit a directional transmission <NUM> to device <NUM>, e.g., via a direction <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, and/or devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>. Controllers <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more communications, may generate and/or communicate one or more messages and/or transmissions, and/or may perform one or more functionalities, operations and/or procedures between devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> and/or one or more other devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include circuitry and/or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, memory circuitry and/or logic, Media-Access Control (MAC) circuitry and/or logic, Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry and/or logic, and/or any other circuitry and/or logic, configured to perform the functionality of controllers <NUM> and/or <NUM>, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, one or more functionalities of controllers <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be implemented by logic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g., as described below.

In one example, controller <NUM> may include circuitry and/or logic, for example, one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, to cause a wireless device, e.g., device <NUM>, and/or a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device <NUM>, to perform one or more operations, communications and/or functionalities, e.g., as described herein.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device <NUM> may include a message processor <NUM> configured to generate, process and/or access one or messages communicated by device <NUM>.

In one example, message processor <NUM> may be configured to generate one or more messages to be transmitted by device <NUM>, and/or message processor <NUM> may be configured to access and/or to process one or more messages received by device <NUM>, e.g., as described below. In one example, message processor <NUM> may be configured to process transmission of one or more messages from a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device <NUM>; and/or message processor <NUM> may be configured to process reception of one or more messages by a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, message processors <NUM> and/or <NUM> may include circuitry, e.g., processor circuitry, memory circuitry, Media-Access Control (MAC) circuitry, Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry, and/or any other circuitry, configured to perform the functionality of message processors <NUM> and/or <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, one or more functionalities of message processors <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be implemented by logic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of radio <NUM>, and/or at least part of the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of radio <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of controller <NUM>, and/or at least part of the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of controller <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of any other element of device <NUM>, and/or the functionality of message processor <NUM> may be implemented as part of any other element of device <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality of controller <NUM> and/or message processor <NUM> may be implemented by an integrated circuit, for example, a chip, e.g., a System in Chip (SoC). In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or more functionalities of radio <NUM>. For example, the chip or SoC may include one or more elements of controller <NUM>, one or more elements of message processor <NUM>, and/or one or more elements of radio <NUM>. In one example, controller <NUM>, message processor <NUM>, and radio <NUM> may be implemented as part of the chip or SoC.

In other embodiments, controller <NUM>, message processor <NUM> and/or radio <NUM> may be implemented by one or more additional or alternative elements of device <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality of controller <NUM> and/or message processor <NUM> may be implemented by an integrated circuit, for example, a chip, e.g., a SoC. In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or more functionalities of radio <NUM>. For example, the chip or SoC may include one or more elements of controller <NUM>, one or more elements of message processor <NUM>, and/or one or more elements of radio <NUM>. In one example, controller <NUM>, message processor <NUM>, and radio <NUM> may be implemented as part of the chip or SoC.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to perform the functionality of an access point (AP), e.g., a DMG AP, and/or a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP), e.g., a DMG PCP, for example, an AP/PCP STA, e.g., a DMG AP/PCP STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to perform the functionality of a non-AP STA, e.g., a DMG non-AP STA, and/or a non-PCP STA, e.g., a DMG non-PCP STA, for example, a non-AP/PCP STA, e.g., a DMG non-AP/PCP STA.

In one example, a station (STA) may include a logical entity that is a singly addressable instance of a medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium (WM). The STA may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, an AP may include an entity that contains a station (STA), e.g., one STA, and provides access to distribution services, via the wireless medium (WM) for associated STAs. The AP may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP) may include an entity that contains a STA, e.g., one station (STA), and coordinates access to the wireless medium (WM) by STAs that are members of a PBSS. The PCP may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a PBSS may include a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) basic service set (BSS) that includes, for example, one PBSS control point (PCP). For example, access to a distribution system (DS) may not be present, but, for example, an intra-PBSS forwarding service may optionally be present.

In one example, a PCP/AP STA may include a station (STA) that is at least one of a PCP or an AP. The PCP/AP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a non-AP STA may include a STA that is not contained within an AP. The non-AP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a non-PCP STA may include a STA that is not a PCP. The non-PCP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a non PCP/AP STA may include a STA that is not a PCP and that is not an AP. The non-PCP/AP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functionality.

Some specifications, e.g., the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad-<NUM> Specification, may be configured to support a Single User (SU) system, in which a Station (STA) cannot transmit frames to more than a single STA at a time. Such specifications may not be able, for example, to support transmission from a STA to multiple STAs, e.g., simultaneously.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to support simultaneous transmission from a STA, e.g., a STA implemented by device <NUM>, to multiple STAs, e.g., including a STA implemented by device <NUM> and/or a STA implemented by device <NUM>, for example, using a multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) scheme, e.g., a downlink (DL) MU-MIMO, and/or any other MU scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more Multi-User (MU) mechanisms. For example, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more MU mechanisms, which may be configured to enable MU communication.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more MU mechanisms, which may be configured to enable MU communication of Downlink (DL) frames using a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) scheme, for example, between a device, e.g., device <NUM>, and a plurality of devices, e.g., including devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or one or more other devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement any other additional or alternative MU mechanism, e.g., to communicate MU transmissions, and/or any other MIMO mechanism, e.g., to communicate MIMO transmissions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to communicate over a Next Generation <NUM> (NG60) network, an Extended DMG (EDMG) network, and/or any other network and/or any other frequency band. For example, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to communicate DL MU-MIMO transmissions and/or use channel bonding, for example, for communicating over the NG60 and/or EDMG networks.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a Multi-User (MU) scheme including two groups of Stations (STAs), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, a STA <NUM> may be configured to communicate with a first group, denoted group <NUM>, which may include four STAs, e.g., a STA A <NUM>, a STA B <NUM>, a STA C <NUM>, and a STA D <NUM>; and/or a second group, denoted group <NUM>, which may include three STAs, e.g., a STA E <NUM>, a STA F <NUM>, and a STA G <NUM>.

In one example, device <NUM> (<FIG>) may perform the functionality of STA <NUM>, device <NUM> (<FIG>) may perform the functionality of one of STAs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and/or device <NUM> (<FIG>) may perform the functionality of another one of STAs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, some specifications may be configured to support communications over a single channel bandwidth (BW) of a wireless communication band, for example, a DMG band or any other band. For example, the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad Specification defines a <NUM> system with a single channel bandwidth (BW) of <NUM>, which is to be used by all Stations (STAs) for both transmission and reception.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more mechanisms, which may, for example, enable to extend a single-channel BW scheme, e.g., a scheme in accordance with the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad Specification or any other scheme, for higher data rates and/or increased capabilities, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, which may, for example, support communication over bonded channels.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the channel bonding may include, for example, a mechanism and/or an operation whereby two or more channels can be combined, e.g., for a higher bandwidth of packet transmission, for example, to enable achieving higher data rates, for example, compared to transmissions over a non-bonded channel, e.g., a single channel.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, which may for example, support an increased channel bandwidth, for example, a channel BW of <NUM>, a channel BW of <NUM>, and/or any other additional or alternative channel BW.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to communicate according to a non-overlapping channel bonding scheme, e.g., as described below.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of channel bonding scheme <NUM>, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process transmission over a bonded channel including at least two bonded channels, e.g., in accordance with channel bonding scheme <NUM>.

For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) to generate a transmission to be transmitted over the bonded channel, and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to perform the transmission over the bonded channel, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of a transmission over a bonded channel including at least two bonded channels, e.g., in accordance with channel bonding scheme <NUM>.

For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to receive the transmission over the bonded channel, and/or message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) to process the transmission received over the bonded channel, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, channel bonding scheme <NUM> may be configured to bond between two or more of four non-overlapping <NUM> channels, for example, a <NUM> channel <NUM>, a <NUM> channel <NUM>, a <NUM> channel <NUM>, and a <NUM> channel <NUM>.

For example, the <NUM> channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be defined in accordance with an IEEE <NUM> Specification, e.g., the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad Specification.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to a channel binding scheme, e.g., channel bonding scheme <NUM>, configured with respect to four non-overlapping <NUM> channels, e.g., channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>. However, in other embodiments the channel bonding scheme may be configured with respect to any other number of channels, e.g., more than four channels or less than four channels, and/or channels having any other bandwidth, e.g., channels narrower than <NUM> or wider than <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may include one or more bonded channels, which may include two <NUM> channels. For example, as shown in <FIG>, channel bonding scheme <NUM> may include a bonded channel <NUM> having a bandwidth of <NUM>, e.g., including and/or formed by a bonding of channels <NUM> and <NUM>; and/or a bonded channel <NUM> having a bandwidth of <NUM>, e.g., including and/or formed by a bonding of channels <NUM> and <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may not utilize one or more other combinations of two of channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may not utilize a channel bonding of channels <NUM> and <NUM> to operate on a <NUM> channel, and/or a channel bonding of channels <NUM> and <NUM> to operate on a <NUM> channel. In other embodiments, the channel-bonding scheme may utilize one or more of these combinations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may include one or more bonded channels, which may include three <NUM> channels. For example, as shown in <FIG>, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may include a bonded channel <NUM> having a bandwidth of <NUM>, e.g., including and/or formed by a bonding of channels <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may include a bonded channel (not shown in <FIG>) having a bandwidth of <NUM>, e.g., including and/or formed by a bonding of channels <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may not utilize one or more other combinations of three of channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, channel-bonding scheme <NUM> may not utilize a channel bonding of channels <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> to operate on a <NUM> channel; and/or a channel bonding of channels <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> to operate on a <NUM> channel. In other embodiments, the channel-bonding scheme may utilize one or more of these combinations.

Referring back to <FIG>, in some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured according to a communication scheme, which may include changes to an IEEE <NUM> Specification, e.g., the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad-<NUM> Specification, for example, at least in a Physical layer (PHY) and/or a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, for example, to support MU capabilities. For example, a PHY header, a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format and/or MU MIMO signaling may be configured to enable the MU communications, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured according to a communication scheme, which include a Physical layer (PHY) and/or a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, for example, to support MU capabilities. For example, the communication scheme may include a PHY header, a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format and/or MU MIMO signaling, which may be configured to enable the MU communications, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the communication scheme may be based on, or may include, for example, changes to an IEEE <NUM> Specification, e.g., the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad-<NUM> Specification. In other embodiments, the communication scheme may be based on, or may include changes to any other Specification or protocol. In other embodiments, the communication scheme may include a new and/or dedicated scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be configured to utilize a MU PPDU structure, which may be configured, for example, at least for MU directional communication, for example, over a DMG band, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to provide, for example, at least modulation information ("modulation signaling" or "modulation indication") to indicate one or more modulation schemes to be used for MU transmission, e.g., as described below.

For example, different modulation schemes may be used to communicate data with different STAs. In one example, a first modulation scheme, e.g., an OFDM scheme, may be used, e.g., by STA <NUM> (<FIG>), to communicate data with one or more STAs of <FIG>, while a second modulation scheme, e.g., a Single Carrier (SC) scheme, may be used, e.g., by STA <NUM> (<FIG>), to communicate data with one or more other STAs of <FIG>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to provide the modulation signaling, e.g., OFDM versus SC signaling, for example, to be used by EDMG devices or stations, NG60 devices or stations, IEEE <NUM>. 11ay devices or stations, and/or any other devices or stations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to provide the indication of the one or more modulation schemes, for example, to be available to one or more receiver stations, for example, earlier in a packet decoding process, for example, to enable an appropriate decoding chain to be used by the receiver stations, e.g., based on the modulation scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the modulation signaling may be different from a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) indication, e.g., Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), which may not be required by a receiving station at this decoding stage.

In some demonstrative embodiments, it may be advantageous to provide the modulation signaling to the receiver device in advance, for example, even before the MCS is provided to the receiver device, e.g., due to one or more implementation differences between a SC receiver and an OFDM receiver. For example, a pipelining process used for OFDM processing may require knowledge of the modulation signaling, for example, even before the MCS is known.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to include the modulation signaling information as part of a header of the MU PPDU, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to include the modulation signaling information as part of a non-legacy header of the MU PPDU, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to include the modulation signaling information as part of a first non-legacy header of the MU PPDU, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to include the MCS information as part of a second non-legacy header of the MU PPDU, e.g., as described below.

Some communication protocols and/or standards, for example, for low frequency bands, e.g., the IEEE <NUM>. 1111ac-<NUM> Specification, the IEEE <NUM>. 11n-<NUM> Specification, and/or LTE Specifications, may be configured to use well-defined modulations. Accordingly, these specifications may not be configured to address the aspect of modulation signaling, e.g., as described herein.

Some specifications, for example, the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad-<NUM> Specification, may support OFDM and SC modulations, which may be indicated through a channel estimation sequence. However, the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad Specification is directed to a single user system.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to support communication in a MU MIMO system, for example, to support transmission of a plurality of different Spatial Streams (SSs) from a wireless station, e.g., a STA implemented by device <NUM>, to a plurality of different users, e.g., including STAs implemented by device <NUM>, device <NUM> and/or any other device, in the same frame, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the MU PPDU structure may be configured to provide a separate modulation signaling, for example, per SS and/or per user, e.g., as described below.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which schematically illustrates a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) structure <NUM>, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PPDU structure <NUM> may be configured, for example, to support communication according to a MU MIMO configuration, for example, over a directional band, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device <NUM> (<FIG>), device <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to process transmission and/or reception of the PPDU structure <NUM>. For example, device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to generate and transmit a frame, e.g., a MU PPDU, having the PPDU structure <NUM>, and/or devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to process reception of a frame, e.g., a MU PPDU, having the PPDU structure <NUM>, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, PPDU <NUM> may include a Short Training Field (STF) <NUM>, a channel estimation (CE) field <NUM>, a header portion <NUM>, a data portion <NUM>, an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) field <NUM>, and/or a Training (TRN) field <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, header portion <NUM> may include a PHY header portion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, header portion <NUM> may include a PLCP header portion, e.g., of a PPDU including the fields of frame structure <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a header structure of header portion <NUM> may be configured to support NG60 and/or EDMG communication, and/or any other type and/or form of communication, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, header portion <NUM> may include legacy header (L-Header) <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, legacy header <NUM> may include a header, which may have a structure in accordance with a current, legacy and/or conventional header.

In some demonstrative embodiments, legacy header <NUM> may have a structure, which may be processed, decoded and/or demodulated by one or more legacy, existing and/or conventional, e.g., devices which may currently be in the market.

In some demonstrative embodiments, legacy header <NUM> may have a structure, which may be in accordance with a PHY header structure of an IEEE <NUM> Specification, for example, the IEEE <NUM>. 11ad-<NUM> Specification, and/or any other Specification, protocol or Standard.

In some demonstrative embodiments, legacy header <NUM> may include a Single Carrier (SC) header. In other embodiments, legacy header <NUM> may include an OFDM header, and/or any other header.

In some demonstrative embodiments, header portion <NUM> may be configured to include a non-legacy information header <NUM>, which may be included as part of a PLCP header of PPDU <NUM>, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include a first non-legacy header <NUM>, denoted "NG60 Header A" or "EDMG Header A", e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include a second non-legacy header <NUM>, denoted "NG60 Header B" or "EDMG Header B".

In other embodiments, non-legacy headers <NUM> and <NUM>, may be combined into a single header <NUM> and/or may be divided into more than two headers.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy headers <NUM> and <NUM> may differ from each other, for example, at least with respect to where in the PPDU structure <NUM> non-legacy headers <NUM> and/or <NUM> may be included; and/or with respect to the contents, functionality, intent, and/or purpose of non-legacy headers <NUM> and/or <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, non-legacy header <NUM> may be included, for example, immediately after the legacy header <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may be configured, for example, to include information pertaining to, and/or to be used by, both single user (SU) transmissions of a SU PPDU, and MU transmissions of a MU PPDU, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may be configured, for example, to include information pertaining to, and/or to be used by, MU transmissions, e.g., as described below. In one example, non-legacy header <NUM> may optionally be excluded from structure <NUM>, for example, in a SU transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may be included, for example, on a per SS basis, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include, for example, information of a number of channels to be bonded, e.g., to transmit at least data portion <NUM>; a length of the PPDU, e.g., a length of at least data portion <NUM> and/or one or more elements of frame <NUM>; a Cyclic Prefix (CP) interval; a number of spatial streams, e.g., to transmit at least data portion <NUM> to one or more users; and/or any other additional or alternative information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include, for example, MU-MIMO parameters, for example, information relating to Spatial Streams (SS), beamforming variables, training sequences, e.g., to be applied to at least data portion <NUM>, and/or any other additional or alternative information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least some of the information of non-legacy header <NUM> may be included in non-legacy header <NUM>, for example, in addition to or instead of including the information in non-legacy header <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, data portion <NUM> may include a plurality of Spatial Streams (SSs) of MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs), e.g., Aggregate MPDUs (A-MPDUs), to a plurality of users, e.g., as described below.

For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause a wireless station, e.g., a wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), to generate and process transmission of an MU PPDU, e.g., in accordance with the PPDU structure <NUM>, to a plurality of users, e.g., a plurality of stations implemented by devices <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or one or more other devices. For example, the MU PPDU may include, e.g., in data portion <NUM>, a plurality of spatial streams of MPDUs to the plurality of users, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, header field <NUM> may include a modulation indication <NUM>, of a plurality of modulation schemes corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of users, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a modulation scheme of the plurality of modulation schemes may include, for example, a Single Carrier (SC) modulation scheme or an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme, e.g., as described below. In other embodiments, the modulation scheme may include any other additional or alternative modulation scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to modulate one or more MPDUs of a SS to a user according to a modulation scheme indicated by modulation indication <NUM> with respect to the user, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may process a MU PPDU to be transmitted to a plurality of users, for example, including a first user, e.g., a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or a second user, , e.g., a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may determine to modulate communications to the first user, e.g., the STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), according to a first modulation scheme, and to modulate communications to the second user, e.g., the STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), according to a second modulation scheme.

In one example, the first and second modulation schemes may be different. For example, the first modulation scheme may include a SC modulation scheme, and/or the second modulation scheme may include an OFDM modulation scheme. Alternatively, the first and second modulation schemes may include any other modulation schemes.

In another example, the first and second modulation schemes may include the same modulation scheme. For example, both the first and second modulation schemes may include a SC modulation scheme, an OFDM modulation scheme, or any other modulation scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to set modulation indication <NUM> to indicate that the first modulation scheme is to be used to modulate one or more MPDUs, e.g., of data portion <NUM>, of a SS to the first user; and/or to indicate that the second modulation scheme is to be used to modulate one or more MPDUs, e.g., of data portion <NUM>, of a SS to the second user, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modulation indication <NUM> may include, or may be in the form of, a modulation bitmap field <NUM>, which may include a sequence of a plurality of bits representing respective ones of the plurality of modulation schemes, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a bit of the plurality of bits of modulation bitmap field <NUM> may have a first value, e.g., "<NUM>", to indicate a first modulation scheme, e.g., a SC modulation scheme or any other modulation scheme, or a second value, e.g., "<NUM>", to indicate a second modulation scheme, e.g., an OFDM modulation scheme or any other modulation scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a size of modulation bitmap field <NUM> may defined, for example, to be equal to a maximum number of users supported by a system, e.g., system <NUM> (<FIG>), or any other size.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a number of SS supported by the system may be higher than the number of users. However, in some embodiments, it may be assumed that SSs addressed to the same user are to use the same modulation scheme. Accordingly, the size of the modulation bitmap field may be determined, for example, based on the number of users to be supported.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modulation bitmap field <NUM> may include an <NUM>-bit field, for example, able to support up to eight users.

For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to set modulation bitmap <NUM> to the sequence "<NUM>", for example, to indicate that one or more SSs to a first user may be modulated according to an OFDM scheme, one or more SSs to a second user may be modulated according to a SC scheme, one or more SSs to a third user may be modulated according to a SC scheme, one or more SSs to a fourth user may be modulated according to an OFDM scheme, one or more SSs to a fifth user may be modulated according to a SC scheme, one or more SSs to a sixth user may be modulated according to an OFDM scheme, one or more SSs to a seventh user may be modulated according to a SC scheme, and one or more SSs to an eighth user may be modulated according to an OFDM scheme,.

In other embodiments, modulation bitmap field <NUM> may include any other number of bits, for example, able to support up to any other number of users.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modulation indication <NUM> may be included in a non-legacy header, e.g., non-legacy header <NUM>, following legacy header field <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header field <NUM> may include an indication of a plurality of Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) corresponding to the plurality of users.

For example, non-legacy header field <NUM> may include at least a first MCS value <NUM> to indicate a first MCS to be applied to transmissions to a first user, and/or a second MCS value <NUM> to indicate a second MCS to be applied to transmissions to a second user.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to modulate and encode one or more MPDUs of a SS to a user according to a MCS indicated non-legacy header <NUM> with respect to the user.

For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to modulate and encode one or more MPDUs of a SS to the first user according to MCS value <NUM>; and/or to modulate and encode one or more MPDUs of a SS to the second user according to MCS value <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process transmission of at least one SS of the plurality of SSs of the MU PPDU over a bonded channel including at least two channels, e.g., bonded channel <NUM> (<FIG>), bonded channel <NUM> (<FIG>), or bonded channel <NUM> (<FIG>), in accordance with channel bonding scheme <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause a wireless station, for example, a wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), to a header field of MU PPDU, e.g., in accordance with the PPDU structure <NUM>, including a plurality of SSs of MPDUs to a plurality of users. For example, the received MU PPDU may include the MU PPDU transmitted by device <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of one or more MPDUs of a SS addressed to the wireless station, for example, based on a modulation scheme corresponding the wireless station, as indicated by modulation indication <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of the one or more MPDUs of the SS addressed to the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), for example, based on a modulation scheme indicated by a bit in modulation bitmap field <NUM> corresponding to the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to demodulate and decode the one or more MPDUs of the SS addressed to the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), for example, according to a MCS indicated by MCS information <NUM>, e.g., by MCS value <NUM>, respect to the wireless station.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to cause the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of the one or more the MPDUs of the SS addressed to the wireless station implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) over a bonded channel including at least two channels, e.g., in accordance with channel bonding scheme <NUM> (<FIG>).

Reference is made to <FIG>, which schematically illustrates a MU PPDU structure <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the claimed invention.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device <NUM> (<FIG>), device <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to process transmission and/or reception of the MU PPDU structure <NUM>. For example, device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to generate and transmit a frame having the MU PPDU structure <NUM>, for example, to a plurality of users, e.g., N><NUM> users, for example, of an MU group, e.g., including devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>); and/or devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>) may be configured to process reception the MU PPDU structure <NUM>, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, MU PPDU <NUM> may include a legacy STF (L-STF) <NUM>, a legacy CE (L-CE) field <NUM>, and a header field <NUM>, e.g., as described below. For example, L-STF <NUM> may include STF <NUM> (<FIG>), L-CE <NUM> may include CE field <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or header field <NUM> may include header <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, header field <NUM> may include a legacy header (L-Header) <NUM>, a first non-legacy header <NUM>, and a second non-legacy header <NUM>. For example, legacy header <NUM> may include legacy header <NUM> (<FIG>), non-legacy header <NUM> may include non-legacy header <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or non-legacy header <NUM> may include non-legacy header <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, header field <NUM> may also include a non-legacy STF <NUM>, e.g., a EDMG-STF or NG60-STF; and/or a non-legacy CE field <NUM>, e.g., an EDMG-CE or NG60 CE.

In some demonstrative embodiments, MU PPDU <NUM> may include a PHY Service Data Unit (PSDU) including a plurality of Spatial Streams (SSs) to the plurality of users, e.g., as described below.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, MU PPDU <NUM> may include an SS <NUM> to a first user ("user <NUM>"), an SS <NUM> to a second user ("user <NUM>"), an SS <NUM> to a third user ("user <NUM>"), and/or an SS <NUM> to an N-th user ("user N"). In other embodiments, MU PPDU <NUM> may include any other number of SS to any other number of users.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SS <NUM> may include, for example, an A-MPDU <NUM>, e.g., an EDMG A-MPDU or an NG60 A-MPDU, which may be followed for example, by at least one AGC field <NUM>, and/or at least one TRN field <NUM>; SS <NUM> may include, for example, an A-MPDU <NUM>, e.g., an EDMG A-MPDU or an NG60 A-MPDU, which may be followed for example, by at least one AGC field <NUM>, and/or at least one TRN field <NUM>; SS <NUM> may include, for example, an A-MPDU <NUM>, e.g., an EDMG A-MPDU or an NG60 A-MPDU; and/or SS <NUM> may include, for example, an A-MPDU <NUM>, e.g., an EDMG A-MPDU or an NG60 A-MPDU.

In some demonstrative embodiments, MU PPDU <NUM> may be generated and/or transmitted by a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>); a STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) may perform the functionality of a user of users <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or N; and/or STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>) may perform the functionality of another one of users <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or N.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include information of a number of channels to be bonded, e.g., to communicate SSs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>; a length of the MU PPDU <NUM>; a Cyclic Prefix (CP) interval; a number of spatial streams, e.g., to transmit at least SSs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>; and/or any other additional or alternative information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, field <NUM>, field <NUM>, and/or non-legacy header <NUM> may include information, for example, on a per SS basis, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include, for example, MU-MIMO parameters, for example, spatial streams, beamforming variables, training sequences, and the like.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, non-legacy header <NUM> may indicate first MU-MIMO parameters corresponding to SS <NUM>, second MU-MIMO parameters corresponding to SS <NUM>, third MU-MIMO parameters corresponding to SS <NUM>, and N-th MU-MIMO parameters corresponding to SS <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may include modulation signaling information <NUM> to indicate modulation schemes to be applied to SS <NUM>, SS <NUM>, SS <NUM>, and/or SS <NUM>. For example, modulation signaling information <NUM> may include modulation signaling information <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, modulation signaling information may be, for example, provided in the form of a Modulation Bitmap field, e.g., modulation bitmap field <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a bit in the modulation bitmap field may correspond to a respective STA addressed by an A-MPDU in MU PPDU <NUM>. For example, the Modulation Bitmap field may a size of at least N bits, e.g., to support the N users.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the bit of the Modulation Bitmap field may be configured indicate for a user whether one or more SSs to the user are to be communicated according to a first modulation scheme, e.g., SC, or a second modulation scheme, e.g., OFDM.

For example, the bit corresponding to the user may be set to a first value, e.g., a value of <NUM>, to indicate that a SC scheme is to be applied to one or more SSs addressed to the user; or to a second value, e.g., a value of <NUM>, to indicate that an OFDM scheme is to be applied to the one or more SSs addressed to the user.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may be configured to indicate MCSs to be applied to the plurality of SSs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, non-legacy header <NUM> may indicate a MCS value <NUM> corresponding to an MCS to be applied to A-MPDU <NUM>, a MCS value <NUM> corresponding to an MCS to be applied to A-MPDU <NUM>, a MCS value <NUM> corresponding to an MCS to be applied to A-MPDU <NUM>, and/or a MCS value <NUM> corresponding to an MCS to be applied to A-MPDU <NUM>.

In some demonstrative embodiments, including the modulation signaling information <NUM> in non-legacy header <NUM>, and/or signaling the MCS values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> of the SSs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>, respectively, in non-legacy header <NUM>, may allow, for example, a receiving device, e.g., each receiving device, to detect and/or determine a modulation scheme, e.g., OFDM or SC or any other modulation scheme applied to one or more SS addressed to the receiver device, for example, prior to actual receipt of the one or more SSs later in the frame. This modulation signaling information <NUM> may allow the receiving device to use a proper decoding chain to demodulate the A-MPDU.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which schematically illustrates a method of MU wireless communication, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more of the operations of the method of <FIG> may be performed by one or more elements of a system, e.g., system <NUM> (<FIG>), for example, one or more wireless devices, e.g., device <NUM> (<FIG>), device <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or device <NUM> (<FIG>), a controller, e.g., controller <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or controller <NUM> (<FIG>), a radio, e.g., radio <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or a message processor, e.g., message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or message processor <NUM> (<FIG>).

As indicated at block <NUM>, the method may include generating a MU PPDU including a header field and a plurality of SSs of MPDUs to a plurality of users, the header field including an indication of a plurality of modulation schemes corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of users. In one example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) to generate PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>) including header field <NUM> (<FIG>), which may include modulation indication <NUM> (<FIG>), and data field <NUM> (<FIG>), which may include the plurality of SSs, e.g., as described above. In another example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) to generate MU PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>) including header field <NUM> (<FIG>), which may include modulation indication <NUM> (<FIG>), and SSs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block <NUM>, the method may include processing transmission of the MU PPDU to the plurality of users over a wireless communication band. For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to process transmission of PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>) to the plurality of users, e.g., including devices <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), via a wireless communication band, for example, a DMG band, e.g., as described above. In another example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to process transmission of MU PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>) to the N users, via a wireless communication band, for example, a DMG band, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block <NUM>, the method may include processing reception of the header field of the frame at a wireless station. For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of the header field <NUM> (<FIG>) of the PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., as described above. In another example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of the header field <NUM> (<FIG>) of the MU PPDU <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block <NUM> the method may include processing reception of one or more MPDUs of a SS addressed to the wireless station, based on a modulation scheme corresponding the wireless station, as indicated by the header field. For example, controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may cause message processor <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or radio <NUM> (<FIG>) to process reception of a SS addressed to the STA implemented by device <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., SS <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> (<FIG>), for example, based at least on a modulation scheme indicated by modulation information <NUM> (<FIG>), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which schematically illustrates a product of manufacture <NUM>, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Product <NUM> may include a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium <NUM> to store logic <NUM>, which may be used, for example, to perform at least part of the functionality of devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), transmitters <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), receivers <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), controllers <NUM> and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), message processors <NUM> (<FIG>) and/or <NUM> (<FIG>), and/or to perform one or more operations and/or functionalities, for example, one or more operations of the method of <FIG>. The phrase "non-transitory machine-readable medium" is directed to include all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory propagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product <NUM> and/or machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may include one or more types of computer-readable storage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. For example, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may include, RAM, DRAM, Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, a cassette, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computer program from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic <NUM> may include instructions, data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method, process and/or operations as described herein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic <NUM> may include, or may be implemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program, a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words, values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform a certain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may be utilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>) comprising memory circuitry (<NUM>), and one or more processors (<NUM>), the one or more processors configured to:
generate an Extended Directional Multigigabit "EDMG" Multi-User "MU" Physical Layer Convergence Protocol Data Unit "PPDU" (<NUM>) for a MU transmission,
the PPDU comprising a header portion (<NUM>) comprising a legacy header (<NUM>) followed by a PHY Service Data Unit "PSDU" comprising a non-legacy header and a data portion, the data portion including a plurality of Media Access Control "MAC" Protocol Data Units "MPDUs" in a plurality of Spatial Streams "SSs" and addressed to a plurality of wireless stations "STAs", wherein:
the PPDU (<NUM>) having:
a Non-EDMG portion containing:
a Legacy Short Training Field (<NUM>),
a Legacy Channel Estimation Field (<NUM>), and
the Legacy header (<NUM>), and
an EDMG portion containing:
the PSDU,
the PSDU comprising:
a first non-legacy header "EDMG-Header A" (<NUM>) comprised in the non-legacy header, the EDMG-Header A indicating one or more of a plurality of different modulation schemes (<NUM>) for the MU transmission, the different modulation schemes including a Single Carrier "SC" modulation scheme or an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing "OFDM" modulation scheme, and,
per each SS (<NUM>-<NUM>), modulated using a respective one of the plurality of different modulation schemes,
a non-legacy short-training field "STF" (<NUM>) following the EDMG-Header A (<NUM>),
a non-legacy Channel Estimation field "CE" (<NUM>) following the STF,
a second non-legacy header "EDMG-Header B" (<NUM>) following the non-legacy Channel Estimation "CE" (<NUM>), the EDMG-Header B indicating a respective Modulation and Coding Scheme "MCSs" (<NUM>-<NUM>);
an EDMG A-MPDU (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) following the EDMG-Header B; the EDMG A-MPDU being modulated according to the respective MCS;
and
the one or more processors are further configured to cause transmission of the EDMG MU PPDU to the plurality of wireless stations over a wireless communication band.