Packet extension for wireless communication

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for providing device(s) with additional processing time to process a packet received wirelessly while still meeting the legacy SIFS time constraint. The additional processing time may be achieved by adding, by a device transmitting the packet, padding and/or a packet extension to the last symbol of the packet. The additional processing time provided to the device(s) advantageously reduces the amount of extra hardware that would normally be added to meet the SIFS time constraint. The amount of padding and/or packet extension to be added to the last symbol is balanced to minimize the complexity of the device(s) against the reduction in system efficiency incurred by the device(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication device, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:
 identify a final symbol of an outgoing data packet that includes a data payload; 
 segment the final symbol into a plurality of short symbol segments; 
 determine a last short symbol segment of the plurality of short symbol segments that includes a portion of the data payload; 
 generate a segment boundary parameter that identifies the last short symbol segment of the plurality of short symbol segments; and 
 insert the segment boundary parameter into a header of the outgoing data packet; and 
   a transmitter configured to transmit the outgoing data packet over a network.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add a first padding to the outgoing data packet based on the determined last short symbol and the portion of the data payload. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add the first padding to a remainder of the last short symbol segment, wherein the remainder of the last short symbol segment does not include the portion of the data payload. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add a second padding to remaining short symbol segments of the plurality of short symbol segments that follow the last short symbol segment. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the first padding is pre-forward error correction padding, and the second padding is post-forward error correction padding. 
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the second padding is an OFDM scrambling sequence. 
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 receive a capability of a receiver configured to receive the outgoing data packet, and   determine a maximum packet extension length based on the capability.   
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 determine whether the second padding is less than the maximum packet extension length; and   in response to determining that the second padding is less than the maximum packet extension length, add a packet extension to the outgoing data packet that has a length based on the maximum packet extension length and a length of the second padding.   
     
     
         9 . The communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the outgoing data packet is configured according to IEEE 802.11ax, and wherein the segment boundary parameter is inserted in a HE-signal-A field of the header of the outgoing data packet. 
     
     
         10 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the header further includes one or more of an HE short training field or an HE long training field. 
     
     
         11 . A method of generating an outgoing data packet for transmittal over a network, comprising:
 identifying a final symbol of the outgoing data packet, the final symbol of the outgoing data packet being a last symbol that includes a portion of a data payload;   segmenting the final symbol into a plurality of short symbol segments;   determining a last short symbol segment of the plurality of short symbol segments that includes the portion of the data payload;   generating a segment boundary parameter that identifies the last short symbol segment of the plurality of short symbol segments;   inserting the segment boundary parameter into a header of the outgoing data packet; and   transmitting the outgoing data packet over the network.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 adding a first padding to the outgoing data packet based on the determined last short signal segment and the portion of the data payload, wherein the first padding is added to a remainder of the last short symbol segment, wherein the remainder of the last short symbol segment does not include the portion of the data payload.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 adding a second padding to remaining short symbol segments of the plurality of short symbol segments that follow the last short symbol segment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first padding is pre-forward error correction padding, and wherein the second padding is post-forward error correction padding. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving a capability of a receiver configured to receive the outgoing data packet; and   determining a maximum packet extension length based on the received capability.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining that a length of the second padding is less than the maximum packet extension length; and   in response to the determining that the length of the second padding is less than the maximum packet extension length, adding a packet extension to the outgoing data packet equal in length to a difference between the maximum packet extension length and the length of the second padding.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of short symbol segments includes four short symbol segments, each having a duration of 4 μs, and wherein the maximum packet extension length is 8 μs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of short symbol segments includes four short symbol segments, each having a duration of 4 μs, and wherein the maximum packet extension length is 16 μs. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the outgoing data packet is configured according to IEEE 802.11ax, and wherein the segment boundary parameter is inserted in a HE-signal-A field of the header of the outgoing data packet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the header further includes one or more of an HE short training field or an HE long training field.