Method, apparatus and system of spatial division multiple access communication in a wireless local area network

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus, and system of performing simultaneous downlink transmission over a wireless medium to a plurality of wireless stations, using Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one demonstrative embodiment of the invention, the method may include synchronizing transmission of first and second data frames to be received by first and second wireless stations, respectively, such that the transmissions of the first and second data frames end substantially simultaneously. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . A method of simultaneously transmitting data to two or more wireless stations, the method comprising: 
 synchronizing transmission of first and second data frames to be received by first and second wireless stations, respectively, such that the transmissions of said first and second data frames end substantially simultaneously.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein synchronizing comprises beginning the transmission of a shorter of the first and second data frames after beginning the transmission of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein synchronizing comprises beginning the transmissions of said first and second frames substantially simultaneously, and transmitting a shorter of the first and second data frames at a transmission rate higher than a transmission rate of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising synchronizing transmission of at least a third data frame to be received by at least a third, respective, wireless station, such that the transmissions of said first, second, and at least third data frames end substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless stations operate in accordance with a standard relating to an IEEE 802.11 standard.  
     
     
         6 . A method of simultaneous transmission of data to a plurality of wireless stations, the method comprising: 
 transmitting at least first and second blocks of one or more data frames to at least first and second wireless stations, respectively, wherein at least part of said first block and at least part of said second block are transmitted substantially simultaneously; and    transmitting first and second block-acknowledgement request frames to said first and second wireless stations, respectively, after transmitting said first and second data blocks.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  comprising beginning the transmissions of said first and second blocks substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  comprising transmitting said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  comprising sequentially transmitting said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  comprising transmitting said first block-acknowledgement request frame and at least part of said second data block substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein transmitting said at least first and second data blocks comprises transmitting at least first, second and third blocks of data frames to at least first, second and third wireless stations, respectively, and wherein at least part of said first block and at least part of said third block are transmitted substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  comprising synchronizing transmissions of one or more frames of said first block with one or more frames of said second block, respectively, such that that transmissions of the one or more frames of said first block begin substantially simultaneously with transmissions of the one or more frames of said second bloc, respectively.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of simultaneously transmitting data to two or more wireless remote stations in two or more channels comprising: 
 a controller to synchronize transmission of first and second data frames to be received by first and second wireless stations, respectively, such that the transmissions of said first and second data frames end substantially simultaneously.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said controller begins transmission of a shorter of the first and second data frames after beginning the transmission of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said controller begins the transmissions of said first and second frames substantially simultaneously, and transmits a shorter of the first and second data frames at a transmission rate higher than a transmission rate of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of simultaneous transmission of data to a plurality of wireless stations, the apparatus comprising: 
 a controller to transmit at least first and second blocks of one or more data frames to at least first and second wireless stations, respectively, wherein at least part of said first block and at least part of said second block are transmitted substantially simultaneously; and to transmit first and second block-acknowledgement request frames to said first and second wireless stations, respectively, after transmitting said first and second data blocks.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller begins the transmissions of said first and second blocks substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller transmits said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller sequentially transmits said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller transmits said first block-acknowledgement request frame and at least part of said second data block substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said controller synchronizes transmissions of one or more frames of said first block with one or more frames of said second block, respectively, such that that transmissions of the one or more frames of said first block begin substantially simultaneously with transmissions of the one or more frames of said second bloc, respectively.  
     
     
         22 . A system of simultaneously transmitting data, the system comprising: 
 first and second wireless stations; and    an access point to synchronize transmission of first and second data frames to be received by said first and second wireless stations, respectively, such that the transmissions of said first and second data frames end substantially simultaneously.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said access point begins transmission of a shorter of the first and second data frames after beginning the transmission of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said access point begins the transmissions of said first and second frames substantially simultaneously, and transmits a shorter of the first and second data frames at a transmission rate higher than a transmission rate of a longer of the first and second data frames.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second wireless stations operate in accordance with a standard relating to an IEEE 802.11 standard.  
     
     
         26 . A system of simultaneous transmission of data, the system comprising: 
 at least first and second wireless stations; and    an access point to transmit at least first and second blocks of one or more data frames to said at least first and second wireless stations, respectively, wherein at least part of said first block and at least part of said second block are transmitted substantially simultaneously; and to transmit first and second block-acknowledgement request frames to said first and second wireless stations, respectively, after transmitting said first and second data blocks.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said access point begins the transmissions of said first and second blocks substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said access point transmits said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said access point sequentially transmits said at least first and second block-acknowledgement request frames.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second wireless stations operate in accordance with a standard relating to an IEEE 802.1 1 standard.