Relay within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

摘要

A relay receives a frame from a source, and based on state of a relayed frame bit within the frame, the relay selects an operational mode: implicit acknowledgement mode, first explicit acknowledgement mode, or second explicit acknowledgement mode. The relay sets the relayed frame bit in subsequent transmissions to indicate transmission opportunity (TXOP) control of the communication medium (e.g., whether under control of the relay or the source). The source may receive acknowledgement of the relay's successful receipt of the frame implicitly via the relay transmitting a relayed frame to the destination. Alternatively, the source may receive acknowledgement of the relay's successful receipt of the frame explicitly in a response frame from the relay. State of a more data bit in the frame receive from the source may indicate the source has one or more additional frames intended for the destination.

主权项

1. A wireless communication device comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a frame from a first other wireless communication device;process content of the frame to determine whether the first other wireless communication device has implicit acknowledgement capability;when the first other wireless communication device is determined to have implicit acknowledgement capability, generate a relayed frame that includes implicit acknowledgement for the first other wireless communication device and transmit the relayed frame to a second other wireless communication device; andwhen the first other wireless communication device is not determined to have implicit acknowledgement capability:
generate a response frame and transmit the response frame to the second other wireless communication device for explicit acknowledgement for the first other wireless communication device; andgenerate the relayed frame and transmit the relayed frame to the second other wireless communication device.