Patent ID: 8913678

Claim:
A method for establishing a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication by a transmitter, the method comprises: generating a first frame to initiate a MIMO communication, wherein the first frame has a default frame format in accordance with a first mode of operation in compliance with a current IEEE 802.11 standard, wherein the first mode of operation indicates a channel bandwidth of 40 MHz; transmitting the first frame to a target receiver over a first configuration of a plurality of transmitter antennas, wherein the first configuration of the plurality of antennas is indicated by the first mode of operation in compliance with the current IEEE 802.11 standard; receiving at least one response frame from the target receiver, wherein the response frame includes information on a second mode of operation in compliance the current IEEE 802.11 standard that is supported by the target receiver, wherein the second mode of operation indicates a channel bandwidth of at least one of 40 MHz or 20 MHz; generating a second frame with a second frame format, wherein the second frame format is in accordance with the second mode of operation in compliance the current IEEE 802.11 that is supported by the transmitter and the target receiver; and transmitting the second frame to the target receiver over a second configuration of plurality of transmitter antennas, wherein the second configuration of the plurality of antennas is indicated by the second mode of operation in compliance with the current IEEE 802.11 standard.