US 10348471

US patent 10348471, titled "Control information for multi-user transmissions in WLAN systems," was filed on August 8, 2016, and issued on July 9, 2019. The original assignee was Newracom Inc, and the current assignee is Atlas Global Technologies LLC. The inventors are Yujin Noh, Daewon Lee, Sungho Moon, and Young Hoon Kwon.

Abstract:
The patent describes systems and methods for wireless communications in multi-user environments. An access point (AP) generates a first frame to allocate resources to multiple stations (STAs). This first frame includes an indication of whether one or more resource units (RUs), such as a center 26-tone RU (where two tones are separated by direct current (DC) tones), are allocated to a station. This indication can be found in a common block field of high efficiency (HE) signal content channels within an HE signal field. Stations receive this frame, determine their allocated RUs, and then transmit a second frame to the AP using those allocated resources.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method for Access Point): This claim describes a method for an access point (AP) to facilitate multi-user communication in a wireless network. The method involves generating a first frame to allocate resources to multiple stations. This first frame contains an indication of whether at least one "special" resource unit (RU) – specifically, a resource unit with two tones separated by direct current (DC) tones – is allocated to at least one of the stations. The AP then transmits this first frame to the stations for multi-user transmission, which can be associated with a first or second channel bandwidth of different sizes.

• Independent Claim 12 (Method for Station): This claim outlines a method for a first station to facilitate multi-user communication. The station receives a first frame from a second station (e.g., an AP) that allocates resources to multiple stations. Based on an indication within this first frame, the first station determines if it has been allocated at least one of the "special" resource units. If allocated, a station-specific subfield associated with this special RU will be present in either a first HE-SIG-B field or a second HE-SIG-B field of the first frame. The first station then transmits a second frame for multi-user transmission using the allocated special RU, if it was allocated, to the multiple stations. The first HE-SIG-B field is associated with a first portion of the channel.

• Independent Claim 13 (Station Apparatus): This claim describes a station apparatus configured to facilitate multi-user communication. The apparatus includes one or more memories and one or more processors coupled to the memories. These processors are configured to receive a first frame that allocates resources to multiple stations. Based on an indication in this first frame, the processors determine if the station has been allocated at least one "special" resource unit (a resource unit where two tones are separated by DC tones). The processors then transmit a second frame for multi-user transmission using the allocated RUs, based on the first frame. This multi-user transmission can be associated with a first or second channel bandwidth of different sizes.