HK1210565B - Device, system and method of scheduling communications with a group of wireless communication units - Google Patents

Description

Device, system and method for scheduling communications with a group of wireless communication units

This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with an international filing date of December 15, 2010, application number 201010601700.8, and titled "Device, system and method for scheduling communications with a group of wireless communication units."

Background Art

Some wireless communication devices and/or systems may implement suitable power saving schemes.

For example, according to a power save multi-poll (PSMP) scheme, a first device, such as a controller or coordinator of a network (e.g., an access point (AP) of a basic service set (BSS)), may transmit a PSMP action frame to a second device, such as a station, which schedules one or more downlink time periods during which the station will be ready to receive transmissions from the AP and/or one or more uplink time periods during which the station may be allowed to transmit transmissions to the AP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. In addition, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or similar elements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of components of a scheduling frame, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

3 is a schematic illustration of a communication sequence between a wireless communication device and at least one group of other wireless communication devices, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

4 is a schematic flow chart illustration of a method of scheduling communications with a group of wireless communication devices, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an article, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that these embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units, and/or circuits are not described in detail in order to obscure the present discussion.

Discussions herein using terms such as "process," "calculate," "calculate," "determine," "establish," "analyze," "examine," etc. may refer to the operation and/or processing of a computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device that processes and/or converts data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within computer registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer registers and/or memories or other information storage media that may store instructions for performing the operations and/or processes.

The terms "energy saving" and "energy saving mode" as used herein may, for example, refer to reducing, weakening, shutting down, turning off, switching off and/or cutting off the current to a device and/or component, and/or switching the device and/or component to operate in a sleep mode, a power reduction mode, a standby mode, an idle mode and/or any other operating mode that consumes less power than required for full and/or normal operation of the device and/or component, such as fully receiving, handling, decoding, transmitting and/or processing wireless communication signals.

As used herein, the terms "regular power" and "regular power mode" may refer, for example, to any operating mode that enables full reception and/or normal operation of the device and/or components, such as full reception, handling, decoding, transmission and/or processing of wireless communication signals.

Some embodiments may be used with various devices and systems, such as personal computers (PCs), desktop computers, mobile computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, server computers, handheld computers, handheld devices, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, handheld PDA devices, on-board devices, off-board devices, hybrid devices, in-vehicle devices, non-in-vehicle devices, mobile or portable devices, consumer devices, non-mobile or non-portable devices, wireless communication stations, wireless communication devices, wireless access points (APs), wired or wireless routers, wired or wireless modems, video devices, audio devices, audio-video (A/V) devices, set-top boxes (STBs), Blu-ray disc (BD) players, BD recorders, digital video disc (DVD) players, high-definition (HD) DVD players, DVD recorders, HD DVD recorders, personal video recorders (PVRs), broadcast HDTVs, and the like. Receiver, video source, audio source, video sink, audio sink, stereo tuner, broadcast radio receiver, flat panel display, personal media player (PMP), digital video camera (DVC), digital audio player, speaker, audio receiver, audio amplifier, gaming device, data source, data sink, digital still camera (DSC), wired or wireless network, wireless area network, wireless video area network (WVAN), local area network (LAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), personal area network (PAN), wireless PAN (WPAN), according to the current IEEE 802.11 (IEEE 802.11-1999: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specification), 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11j, 802.11n, 802.16, 802.16d, 802.16e, 802.16f standards ("IEEE 802 standard) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating according to the current Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) and/or WirelessHD ^™ specifications and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices that are part of the above networks, one-way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, cellular telephones, personal communication system (PCS) devices, PDA devices incorporating wireless communication devices, mobile or portable global positioning system (GPS) devices, devices incorporating GPS receivers or transceivers or chips, devices incorporating RFID elements or chips, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transceivers or devices, single-input multiple-output (SIMO) transceivers or devices, multiple-input single-output (MISO) transceivers or devices, devices with one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, digital video broadcasting (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devices or systems, wired or wireless handheld devices (e.g., BlackBerry, Palm Treo), wireless application protocol (WAP) devices, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types of wireless communication signals and/or systems, such as radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal FDM (OFDM), time division multiplexing (TDM), time division multiple access (TDMA), extended TDMA (E-TDMA), general packet radio service (GPRS), extended GPRS, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier modulation (MDM), discrete multi-tone (DMT), global positioning system (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee ^™ , ultra-wideband (UWB), global system for mobile communications (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), etc. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systems and/or networks.

As used herein, the term "wireless device" includes, for example, a device capable of wireless communication, a communication device capable of wireless communication, a communication station capable of wireless communication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wireless communication, and the like. In some exemplary embodiments, a wireless device may be or may include a peripheral integrated with a computer or a peripheral attached to a computer. In some exemplary embodiments, the term "wireless device" may optionally include a wireless service.

Some exemplary embodiments may be used in conjunction with a suitable limited-range or short-range wireless communication network, such as a wireless area network, a "piconet," a WPAN, a WVAN, or the like.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 , which schematically illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 , in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include a wireless area network and/or a basic service set (BSS) including one or more wireless communication devices, such as wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138, capable of communicating content, data, information, and/or signals over one or more suitable wireless communication links, such as radio channels, IR channels, RF channels, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channels, etc. One or more elements of system 100 may optionally be capable of communicating over any suitable wired communication link.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136 and/or 138 may include, for example, a PC, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phone functionality and PDA device functionality), a consumer device, an in-vehicle device, a non-in-vehicle device, a mobile or portable device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a cellular phone, a PCS device, a PDA device combined with a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relatively small computing device, a non-desktop computer, a "Carry-On Lifestyle" (CSLL) device, an ultra mobile device (UMD), an ultra mobile PC (UMPC), a mobile Internet device (MID), an "Origami" device or computing device, a device supporting Dynamic Composable Computing (DCC), a context-aware device, a video device, an audio device, an A/V device, a STB, a BD player, a BD recorder, a DVD player, an HD DVD player, a DVD recorder, an HD DVD recorder, PVR, broadcast HD receiver, video source, audio source, video sink, audio sink, stereo tuner, broadcast radio receiver, flat panel display, PMP, DVC, digital audio player, speakers, audio receiver, gaming device, audio amplifier, data source, data sink, DSC, media player, smart phone, TV, audio player, etc.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may include, e.g., wireless communication unit 108 for communicating with other wireless communication devices of system 100 as described below. Wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may also include, e.g., one or more of processor 120, input unit 112, output unit 114, memory unit 118, and storage unit 116. Wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may optionally include other suitable hardware components and/or software components.

In some demonstrative embodiments, some or all of the components of wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may be enclosed in a common housing or packaging and may be interconnected or operably associated using one or more wired or wireless links. In other embodiments, the components of wireless communication devices 102, 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

The processor 120 may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multi-core processor, a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, multiple processors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits, a circuit system, a logic unit, an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other suitable general-purpose or special-purpose processor or controller. The processor 120 executes instructions of, for example, an operating system (OS) of the wireless communication device 102 and/or one or more suitable applications.

The input unit 112 includes, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitable pointing devices or input devices.

The output unit 114 includes, for example, a monitor, a screen, a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit, a plasma display unit, one or more audio speakers or headphones, or other suitable output devices.

The memory unit 118 may include, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, cache memory, a buffer, a short-term memory unit, a long-term memory unit, or other suitable memory unit. The storage unit 116 may include, for example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a compact disk (CD) drive, a ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable or non-removable storage unit. The memory unit 118 and/or the storage unit 116 may store data for processing by the wireless communication device 102, for example.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 includes, for example, one or more wireless transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers capable of sending and/or receiving wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may include or be implemented as part of a wireless network interface card (NIC) or the like.

The wireless communication unit 108 may include, or may be associated with, one or more antennas or one or more groups of antennas 110. The antennas 110 may include, for example, internal and/or external RF antennas, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, omnidirectional antennas, end-fed antennas, circularly polarized antennas, microstrip antennas, diversity antennas, or other types of antennas suitable for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks, frames, transmission streams, packets, messages, and/or data.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least one of the wireless communication devices of system 100, e.g., wireless communication device 102, may perform the functionality of, for example, an access point (AP), a control point (CP), a base station (BS), or any coordinator or controller as defined by IEEE 802.11 and/or WGA specifications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may be capable of simultaneously sending transmissions to and/or simultaneously receiving transmissions from two or more other devices of system 100 .

In some embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may be capable of performing spatial division multiple access (SDMA) communications. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a downlink SDMA transmission by transmitting different signals substantially simultaneously via antenna 110, such that the combined transmitted signals result in different signals intended for reception by two or more other wireless communication devices of system 100, the different signals being transmitted on the same frequency but in substantially different directions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may receive an uplink SMDA transmission comprising different signals from two or more other devices of system 100.

The term "substantially simultaneously" as used herein with respect to transmitting to and/or receiving from two or more different wireless communication devices may refer to transmitting and/or receiving two or more transmissions where at least a portion of each transmission and/or reception occurs at the same time, but does not imply that the different transmissions and/or receptions must begin and/or end at the same time, although they may.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may communicate with at least one group of a plurality of wireless communication devices of system 100, e.g., groups 130 and/or 140, as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, group 140 may include a first plurality of wireless communication devices of system 100, e.g., wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148, which may be adapted for simultaneous downlink and/or uplink wireless communications with wireless communication unit 108, and/or group 130 may include a second plurality of wireless communication devices of system 100, e.g., wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138, which may be adapted for simultaneous downlink and/or uplink wireless communications with wireless communication unit 108. For example, groups 130 and/or 140 may include a group of SDMA devices adapted for unidirectional SDMA communications with wireless communication unit 108, e.g., in an uplink direction to device 102 and/or in a downlink direction from device 102, and/or for bidirectional SDMA communications with wireless communication unit 108, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the wireless communication devices of groups 130 and/or 140 may be grouped together, e.g., by wireless communication unit 108, based on any suitable criteria, such as, for example, one or more traffic specification (TSPEC) requirements (e.g., quality of service requirements, bandwidth requirements, traffic pattern requirements, etc.) and/or any other suitable requirements and/or parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may be capable of receiving TSPEC information for corresponding wireless communication device 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 as part of an add traffic stream (ADDTS) request frame. The ADDTS frame received from the wireless communication device may include suitable TSPEC information elements (IEs) and/or fields that may include TSPEC information for the corresponding wireless communication device. In other embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may receive the TSPEC information as part of any other suitable frame and/or communication and/or in any other suitable format.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device received by wireless communication unit 108 may include traffic flow information defining a traffic flow between the wireless communication device and wireless communication unit 108. The TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device may include, for example, one or more of a traffic mode of the traffic flow, quality of service (QoS) of the traffic flow, and/or any other set of requirements, parameters, characteristics, and/or expectations of the traffic flow. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may receive a first ADDTS frame from wireless communication device 144 that includes traffic flow information, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS, defining a traffic flow between wireless communication device 144 and wireless communication unit 108; a second ADDTS frame from wireless communication device 146 that includes traffic flow information, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS, defining a traffic flow between wireless communication device 146 and wireless communication unit 108; a second ADDTS frame from the wireless communication device 148 including traffic flow information defining the traffic flow between the wireless communication device 148 and the wireless communication unit 108, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS; a third ADDTS frame from the wireless communication device 148 including traffic flow information defining the traffic flow between the wireless communication device 148 and the wireless communication unit 108, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS; a fourth ADDTS frame from the wireless communication device 134 including traffic flow information defining the traffic flow between the wireless communication device 134 and the wireless communication unit 108, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS; a fifth ADDTS frame from the wireless communication device 136 including traffic flow information defining the traffic flow between the wireless communication device 136 and the wireless communication unit 108, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS; and/or a sixth ADDTS frame from the wireless communication device 138 including traffic flow information defining the traffic flow between the wireless communication device 138 and the wireless communication unit 108, such as a traffic mode and/or QoS.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the TSPEC information received by wireless communication unit 108 from a wireless communication device may include the directionality of a traffic flow between the wireless communication device and wireless communication unit 108. The directionality of the traffic flow may be determined, for example, based on a traffic pattern of the traffic flow. For example, the directionality of the traffic flow may include: an uplink traffic flow, for example, including uplink transmissions from the wireless communication device to wireless communication unit 108; a downlink traffic flow, for example, including downlink transmissions from wireless communication unit 108 to the wireless communication device; or a bidirectional traffic flow, for example, including both uplink and downlink transmissions.

In some exemplary embodiments, the QoS of a traffic flow may include, for example, a QoS parameter representing a priority type of the traffic flow, thereby, for example, guaranteeing a certain level of performance. The priority type of the traffic flow may be selected from a set of predefined priority types. In one example, the QoS of a traffic flow may be selected from a set of four predefined priority types, such as a video priority type, an audio (voice) priority type, a best-effort priority type, and a background priority type, as defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard and/or any other suitable standard.

In some demonstrative embodiments, traffic flows corresponding to wireless communication devices may be classified as: synchronous traffic flows, e.g., if the traffic flows include time-correlated traffic flows, e.g., including video and/or voice data; and/or asynchronous traffic flows, e.g., if the traffic flows are time-independent, e.g., if the traffic flows do not include video or voice data.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 to one or more groups, e.g., including group 140, based on the classification and/or directionality of traffic flows corresponding to wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148; and/or assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 to one or more groups, e.g., including group 130, based on the classification and/or directionality of traffic flows corresponding to wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, 138, 144, 146, and/or 148 to an uplink synchronous group, a downlink synchronous group, a two-way synchronous group, and/or a two-way asynchronous group. In other embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, 138, 144, 146, and/or 148 to any other suitable group.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign a wireless communication device among wireless communication devices 134, 136, 138, 144, 146, and/or 148 to an uplink synchronous group, for example, if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents an uplink traffic pattern including at least one of video and voice data; may assign the wireless communication device to a downlink synchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a downlink traffic pattern including at least one of video and voice data; may assign the wireless communication device to a two-way synchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a two-way traffic pattern including at least one of video and voice data; and/or may assign the wireless communication device to a two-way asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents another traffic pattern.

Although some embodiments are described herein with reference to assigning wireless communication devices to groups based on TSPEC information for corresponding wireless communication devices, other embodiments may include one or more wireless communication devices being assigned to a group based on any other suitable criteria.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 to group 140 and provide appropriate group assignment information defining and/or relating to group 140 to wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148; and/or assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, and 138 to group 130 and provide appropriate group assignment information defining and/or relating to group 130 to wireless communication devices 134, 136, and 138.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may assign respective wireless communication addresses (also referred to as "group addresses" or "multicast addresses") to groups 140 and/or 130. The group address assigned to each of groups 140 and/or 130 may comprise, for example, a suitable medium access control (MAC) address or multicast address, which may be uniquely assigned, for example, within system 100 and/or within a basic service set (BSS) controlled and/or managed by wireless communication unit 108.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may notify wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 of the group address assigned to group 140, and/or may notify wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 of the group address assigned to group 130, e.g., using any suitable transmission, frame, and/or packet. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit one or more unicast frames to wireless communication devices 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138, e.g., a first group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 144, a second group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 146, a third group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 148, a fourth group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 134, a fifth group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 136, and/or a sixth group allocation frame addressed to wireless communication device 138. The first, second, and third group allocation frames may include, for example, the group address of group 140 , while the fourth, fifth, and sixth group allocation frames may include, for example, the group address of group 130 .

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may determine, e.g., based on any suitable criteria, an order in which wireless communication devices 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 are to respond to transmissions from wireless communication unit 108, e.g., such that wireless communication devices 144, 146, 148, 134, 136, and/or 138 may respond during non-overlapping time periods, e.g., as described below. For example, after assigning wireless communication devices 144, 146, 148 to group 140, wireless communication unit 108 may determine that wireless communication device 144 is to respond to a transmission from wireless communication unit 108 at a first offset time after the transmission from wireless communication unit 108, that wireless communication device 146 is to respond to a transmission from wireless communication unit 108 at a second offset time after the transmission that is longer than the first offset time, and/or that wireless communication device 148 is to respond to a transmission from wireless communication unit 108 at a third offset time after the transmission that is longer than the second offset time. The difference between the second and first offset times and/or the difference between the third and second offset times may be at least equal to the duration of a response from wireless communication devices 144 and/or 146, e.g., to allow wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 to respond during non-overlapping time periods.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may include an indication of the required order in the group allocation frame, for example, as part of a predefined field ("Device Association Identifier (AID) List field"). For example, a group allocation frame transmitted to devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may include values representing wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 according to the required order. For example, if wireless communication device 146 is to respond to wireless communication unit 108 before a response from wireless communication device 144, which in turn is to respond to wireless communication unit 108 before a response from wireless communication device 148, the group allocation frame may include, for example, in the AID List field, a value representing the MAC address of wireless communication device 146, followed by a value representing the MAC address of wireless communication device 144, which in turn may be followed by a value representing the MAC address of wireless communication device 148.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may each determine an order in which to respond to wireless communication unit 108 based on the indication of the required order.

In some embodiments, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may transmit responses at a data rate equal to the data rate of transmissions from wireless communication unit 108, e.g., to allow wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 to schedule response transmissions so that wireless communication unit 108 may be able to receive the responses.

In another embodiment, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may transmit the response at a predefined data rate selected for communication with wireless communication unit 108. In one example, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may transmit the response at a data rate selected from a set of predefined data rates implemented for communication in system 100, such as the BSS basic rate set defined by the 802.11 standard. For example, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may transmit the response at a highest data rate of the BSS basic rate set that is less than or equal to the rate received from wireless communication unit 108 in an immediately preceding frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may, for example, assign wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 to group 140 and/or assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 to group 130 without directly providing wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 with a definition of and/or information regarding group 140 and/or without directly providing wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 with a definition of and/or information regarding group 130. According to this example, for example, wireless communication unit 108 may simultaneously transmit downlink transmissions to devices of groups 140 and/or 130, while one or more of the wireless communication devices in groups 140 and/or 130 may each be unaware of the simultaneous transmissions to other devices in groups 140 and/or 130, e.g., if the one or more wireless communication devices are not required and/or are not capable of transmitting uplink SDMA transmissions to wireless communication unit 108. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a downlink SDMA transmission to a wireless communication device, such as device 148, and the wireless communication device may be unaware of the fact that the downlink transmission is a downlink transmission, for example, if wireless communication device 148 is not required and/or does not have the ability to transmit an uplink SDMA transmission to wireless communication unit 108.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may schedule simultaneous uplink and/or downlink transmissions between wireless communication unit 108 and wireless communication devices of groups 130 and/or 140 (“scheduled groups”), e.g., according to any suitable power management scheme (e.g., a Power Save Multi-Poll (PSMP) scheme, etc.).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit at least one scheduling frame defining one or more uplink and downlink time periods to the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the schedule frame may include any suitable power management control frame, such as a PSMP activation frame, etc. The schedule frame may schedule at least one downlink transmission period, e.g., a PSMP downlink transmission (PSMP-DTT) period, during which wireless communication unit 108 may transmit simultaneous transmissions to wireless communication devices of the scheduled group; and/or at least one uplink transmission period, e.g., a PSMP uplink transmission (PSMP-UTT) period, during which wireless communication unit 108 will receive uplink communications from wireless communication devices of the scheduled group, e.g., sequentially and/or simultaneously, as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may use the schedule frame as part of a power management scheme, e.g., to manage the scheduling of power-saving periods on one or more wireless communication devices of a scheduled group, e.g., between downlink and/or uplink transmissions. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a schedule frame to the wireless communication devices of group 140, the schedule frame instructing the wireless communication devices of group 140 to operate in a power mode, e.g., a normal power mode, during one or more scheduled downlink periods, during which the wireless communication devices of group 140 are able to receive communications from the wireless communication unit; and/or informing the wireless communication devices of group 140 of one or more uplink periods during which the wireless communication devices of group 140 are permitted to transmit uplink transmissions to wireless communication unit 108. In one example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a schedule frame to the wireless communication devices of group 140, the schedule frame defining, e.g., a downlink period starting within 5 milliseconds (ms) and lasting for 10 ms, with reference to any suitable reference time point; and/or an uplink period starting within 60 ms and lasting for 20 ms. According to this example, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 may switch to power save mode during the period between 15 ms and 60 ms. One or more wireless communication devices of the scheduled group may switch back to normal power mode, for example, before or at the end of the power save period.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit one or more scheduling frames to schedule uplink and/or downlink periods corresponding to two or more groups, e.g., groups 130 and 140. In one embodiment, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a common scheduling frame to schedule different uplink and/or downlink periods for groups 130 and 140. For example, the scheduling frame may include: an indication of group 130, such as a group address assigned to group 130, which may be associated with an indication of a first uplink and/or downlink period scheduled for group 130; and an indication of group 140, such as a group address assigned to group 140, which may be associated with an indication of a first uplink and/or downlink period scheduled for group 140. In another embodiment, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit different scheduling frames to wireless communication devices of different wireless communication device groups to inform the wireless communication devices of the different groups of different scheduled simultaneous downlink and/or uplink periods. For example, the wireless communication unit 108 may transmit a first scheduling frame defining a downlink and/or uplink period for the group 140 to the wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 of the group 140; and/or transmit a second scheduling frame defining a downlink and/or uplink period for the group 130 to the wireless communication devices 134, 136, and 138 of the group 130.

2, which schematically illustrates components of a PSMP frame 200 in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more components of frame 200 may be included as part of a scheduling frame transmitted by wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1), eg, as part of a PSMP scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the components shown in FIG. 2 may be transmitted as part of any suitable frame, packet, and/or transmission, e.g., as a data portion of a PSMP frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include a suitable STA_INFO type field 202.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include a PSMP downlink transmission (PSMP-DTT) start offset field 204 that is used to indicate a start time of a PSMP-DTT period, e.g., with reference to any suitable reference time. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit PSMP frame 200 to wireless communication devices 144 , 146 , and 148 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 140 , including PSMP-DTT start offset field 204 having a value indicating that a concurrent PSMP DTT period scheduled for wireless communication devices 144 , 146 , and 148 ( FIG. 1 ) will begin within 10 ms.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include PSMP-DTT duration field 206 to indicate the duration of the PSMP DTT period. For example, a value of 6 in PSMP-DTT duration field 206 may indicate that the PSMP DTT scheduled for wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 of group 140 ( FIG. 1 ) will last for 6 ms.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include at least one PSMP uplink transmission (PSMP-UTT) start offset field 210 to indicate the start time of at least one PSMP UTT period, respectively. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit PSMP frame 200 including PSMP-UTT start offset field 210 to wireless communication devices 144 , 146 , and 148 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 140 , e.g., if wireless communication devices 144 , 146 , and/or 148 ( FIG. 1 ) support uplink SDMA transmission, then PSMP-UTT start offset field 210 indicates that the PSMP UTT period for transmissions from wireless communication devices 144 , 146 , and 148 ( FIG. 1 ) will begin within 10 ms. Alternatively, for example, if the wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 (Figure 1) do not support uplink SDMA transmission, the wireless communication unit 108 (Figure 1) may transmit a PSMP frame 200 including a different PSMP-UTT start offset value to each of the wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 (Figure 1), for example, so that each of the wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 (Figure 1) can perform PSMP UTT during non-overlapping time periods.

In some exemplary embodiments, the PSMP frame 200 may include at least one PSMP-UTT duration field 212 to indicate the duration of at least one PSMP UTT period. For example, a value of 6 in the PSMP-UTT duration field 212 may indicate that the PSMP UTT period is scheduled to last 6 ms.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include an address ID field 208 (also referred to as a “receiver address field”) to identify one or more wireless communication devices that are to receive PSMP frame 200 .

In one embodiment, for example, if wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) transmits frame 200 to a group of wireless communication devices as part of a broadcast transmission, field 208 may represent a group address or a multicast address assigned to the scheduled group, for example, as described above. In one example, field 208 may have a size of 43 bits, and wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may include 43 bits in field 208, for example, the 43 least significant bits (LSBs) of a group MAC address assigned to the scheduled group.

In another embodiment, for example, if wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) transmits frame 200 as part of a unicast transmission to a single wireless communication device, PSMP group address ID 208 may represent the unicast address of a specific wireless communication device, such as wireless communication device 144, that is to receive PSMP frame 200. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit three unicast transmissions including frames 200 addressed to wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 ( FIG. 1 ), respectively.

In another embodiment, the PSMP frame 200 may include an ID field 208 including a plurality of group addresses corresponding to the plurality of groups, such as two group addresses corresponding to groups 130 and 140. According to this embodiment, the PSMP frame 200 may include a first set of PSMP-DTT and/or PSMP-UTT values defining one or more PSMP DTT and/or UTT periods scheduled for a first group of the plurality of groups, followed by a second set of PSMP-DTT and/or PSMP-UTT values defining one or more PSMP DTT and/or UTT periods scheduled for a second group of the plurality of groups.

In some demonstrative embodiments, PSMP frame 200 may include reserved field 214 to include any suitable additional information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, fields 210 and 212 may define a common PSMP UTT period during which the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group may simultaneously perform uplink transmissions, e.g., if the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group support uplink SDMA transmissions. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit a PSMP schedule frame 200 including fields 210 and 212 to wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 ( FIG. 1 ), e.g., if wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 ( FIG. 1 ) support uplink SDMA transmissions, whereby fields 210 and 212 define at least one PSMP-UTT period scheduled for transmissions from wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 ( FIG. 1 ) to wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, fields 210 and 212 may define a plurality of PSMP UTT periods during which the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group may sequentially perform uplink transmissions, for example, if the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group do not support uplink SDMA transmissions. For example, if wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 of group 130 ( FIG. 1 ) do not support uplink SDMA transmissions, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may define an order in which the plurality of PSMP UTT periods will be scheduled for wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 130. Wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may define the order, for example, using the AID list field, as described above. For example, the wireless communication unit 108 (Figure 1) may transmit a PSMP scheduling frame 200 including fields 210 and 212 to the wireless communication devices 134, 136 and/or 138 (Figure 1), where fields 210 and 212 define the start and duration of a first PSMP UTT period scheduled for transmission by a first device of the group 130 (Figure 1), e.g., determined according to the AID list; a second PSMP UTT period scheduled for transmission by a second device of the group 130 (Figure 1), e.g., determined according to the AID list, may start after the first PSMP period and may last for the duration indicated by field 210, and so on.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit some or all components of PSMP frame 200 to wireless communication devices of a scheduled group. For example, if a wireless communication device is not scheduled to perform an uplink transmission to wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ), wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit PSMP frame 200 to the wireless communication device that includes PSMP-DTT start offset field 204, PSMP-DTT duration field 206, and PSMP group address ID 208, but does not include fields 210 and/or 212.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 , which schematically illustrates a sequence 300 of transmissions between a wireless communication device, such as wireless communication device 102 ( FIG. 1 ) and/or wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ), and one or more groups of other wireless communication devices, such as groups 140 and/or 130 ( FIG. 1 ), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

3 , timeline 304 includes transmissions by the wireless communication device (e.g., wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 )); timeline 306 includes transmissions by a first wireless communication device of a first group (e.g., wireless communication device 144 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 140 ( FIG. 1 )); timeline 308 includes transmissions by a second wireless communication device of the first group (e.g., wireless communication device 146 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 140 ( FIG. 1 )); timeline 310 includes transmissions by a first wireless communication device of a second group (e.g., wireless communication device 134 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 130 ( FIG. 1 )); and timeline 312 includes transmissions by a second wireless communication device of a second group (e.g., wireless communication device 136 ( FIG. 1 ) of group 130 ( FIG. 1 )).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit a first PSMP schedule frame 320 to two or more wireless communication devices of a first group to schedule at least one simultaneous downlink transmission period 313 and/or at least one uplink transmission period 315 for the wireless communication devices of the first group. According to some embodiments, PSMP frame 320 may include some or all components of PSMP frame 200 ( FIG. 2 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may simultaneously transmit downlink transmissions 322 to two or more wireless communication devices of the first group during time period 313. For example, downlink transmissions 322 may be transmitted in the form of downlink SDMA transmissions. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may simultaneously transmit two or more different downlink transmissions 322 to two or more wireless communication devices of the first group, such as to two or more of wireless communication devices 144, 146, and 148 ( FIG. 1 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the two or more wireless communication devices of the first group may simultaneously transmit uplink transmissions 328 and 330, respectively, to wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) during time period 315. For example, transmissions 328 and 330 may be transmitted as uplink SDMA transmissions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, if the wireless communication devices of the second group do not support uplink SDMA transmissions, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may schedule one or more sequential uplink transmission time periods during which two or more wireless communication devices of a group, such as the second group, may sequentially transmit uplink transmissions to wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit a second PSMP schedule frame 324 to the two or more wireless communication devices of the second group to schedule at least one simultaneous downlink transmission period 317 and/or uplink transmission period 319 and/or 321 for the wireless communication devices of the second group. According to some embodiments, PSMP frame 324 may include some or all components of PSMP frame 200 ( FIG. 2 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may simultaneously transmit downlink transmission 326 to two or more wireless communication devices of the second group during time period 317. For example, downlink transmission 326 may be transmitted in the form of a downlink SDMA transmission. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may simultaneously transmit two or more different downlink transmissions 326 to two or more wireless communication devices of the second group, e.g., to two or more of wireless communication devices 134, 136, and 138 ( FIG. 1 ).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the two or more wireless communication devices of the second group, e.g., wireless communication devices 134 and/or 136 of group 130 ( FIG. 1 ), may transmit uplink SDMA transmissions 332 and 334, respectively, to wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) during non-overlapping time periods 319 and 321, respectively.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may reserve the wireless communication medium for a period of time (“reservation period”) that includes at least the transmission period of the scheduled frame and the scheduled uplink and/or downlink transmission period, e.g., to ensure that no other communications are performed during the reserved period.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may reserve the wireless communication medium by, for example, transmitting at least one request to send (RTS) packet 301 to one or more wireless communication devices of a scheduled group (e.g., group 140 ( FIG. 1 )) prior to transmitting frame 320. RTS packet 301 may include a duration value corresponding to the time period to be reserved. For example, the duration field of the RTS packet may be set by wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) to include a value representing a time period including the transmission period of frame 320 and time periods 313 and 315. For example, in response to RTS packet 301, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may receive at least one clear to send (CTS) packet from at least one of the wireless communication devices of the scheduled group. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may receive CTS packets 303 and/or 305 from wireless communication devices 134 and/or 136 ( FIG. 1 ), respectively. 3 , in one embodiment, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may receive CTS packets 303 and/or 305 simultaneously, e.g., as part of an uplink SDMA transmission. In other embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may receive CTS packets 303 and/or 305 sequentially, e.g., in an order defined by an AID list, e.g., as described above.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which schematically illustrates a method of scheduling communications with a group of wireless communication devices, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more operations of the method of FIG. 3 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as wireless communication device 102 ( FIG. 1 ), a wireless communication unit, such as wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ), and/or any other wireless communication device capable of coordinating transmissions within a network.

As indicated at block 402, the method may include assigning a wireless communication device to at least one group. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may assign wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 ( FIG. 1 ) to group 140 ( FIG. 1 ) and/or assign wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 ( FIG. 1 ) to group 130 ( FIG. 1 ), e.g., as described above.

Assigning the wireless communication device to at least one group may include assigning the wireless communication device based on TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device, as indicated at block 420. For example, wireless communication devices 144, 146, and/or 148 (FIG. 1) are assigned to group 140 (FIG. 1) and/or wireless communication devices 134, 136, and/or 138 (FIG. 1) are assigned to group 130 (FIG. 1) based on TSPEC information corresponding to wireless communication devices 134, 136, 138, 144, 146, and/or 148 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 422, the method may include providing information corresponding to the group to the wireless communication devices assigned to the group. For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may transmit one or more allocation frames to wireless communication devices 134, 136, 138, 144, 146, and/or 148 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 404, the method may include scheduling one or more communication periods for communications with wireless communication devices of the scheduled group. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may schedule one or more PSMP-DTT and/or PSMP-UTT periods for group 130 ( FIG. 1 ) and/or schedule one or more PSMP-DTT and/or PSMP-UTT periods for group 140 ( FIG. 1 ), e.g., as described above.

Scheduling the communication period may include reserving the wireless communication medium for a duration corresponding to the communication period, as indicated at block 424. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit RTS packet 301 ( FIG. 3 ) to at least one wireless communication device of the scheduled group and/or receive CTS packets 303 and/or 305 ( FIG. 3 ) from one or more wireless communication devices of the scheduled group, e.g., as described above.

Scheduling the communication period may include transmitting at least one scheduling frame to the scheduled group, as indicated at block 410. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit PSMP scheduling frame 200 ( FIG. 2 ) to one or more wireless communication devices of group 130 ( FIG. 1 ) to schedule a communication period for group 130 ( FIG. 1 ), e.g., as described above.

Transmitting the schedule frame may include transmitting an indication of the scheduled group, as indicated at block 426. For example, wireless communication unit 108 (Fig. 1) may transmit PSMP frame 200 (Fig. 2) including a group address assigned to group 130 (Fig. 1), eg, as described above.

As indicated at block 428, transmitting the schedule frame may include transmitting an indication of at least one downlink period, such as an SDMA downlink transmission period. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit frame 200 ( FIG. 2 ) including PSMP-DTT Start Offset and/or PSMP-DTT Duration fields that include values defining at least one PSMP-DTT period, e.g., as described above.

Transmitting the schedule frame may include transmitting an indication of at least one uplink period, as indicated at block 430. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may transmit frame 200 ( FIG. 2 ) including a PSMP-UTT Start Offset and/or a PSMP-UTT Duration field including values defining at least one PSMP-UTT period, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 412, the method may include communicating during one or more of the scheduled communication periods.

As indicated at block 432, communicating during one or more of the scheduled communication periods may include simultaneously transmitting two or more different wireless communication transmissions from the wireless communication unit to two or more respective wireless communication devices of the scheduled group during a downlink period. For example, the wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may simultaneously transmit different downlink transmissions 320 ( FIG. 3 ) to two or more wireless communication devices of the scheduled group, e.g., as described above.

Communicating during one or more of the scheduled communication periods may include receiving wireless communication transmissions during an uplink period, as indicated at block 434. For example, wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) may receive simultaneous uplink transmissions 328 and 330 ( FIG. 3 ) and/or sequential uplink transmissions 332 and 334 ( FIG. 3 ) from two or more wireless communication devices of the scheduled group, e.g., as described above.

5 , which schematically illustrates an article of manufacture 500 in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Article of manufacture 500 may include a machine-readable storage medium 502 for storing logic 504 that may be used, for example, to perform at least a portion of the functionality of wireless communication unit 108 ( FIG. 1 ) and/or wireless communication device 102 ( FIG. 1 ); and/or to perform one or more operations of the method of FIG. 4 .

In some demonstrative embodiments, article of manufacture 500 and/or machine-readable storage medium 502 may include one or more computer-readable storage media capable of storing data, including volatile or non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writable or rewritable memory, etc. For example, machine-readable storage medium 502 may include RAM, DRAM, double data rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), recordable compact disk (CD-R), rewritable compact disk (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-nitride-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, a cartridge, etc. Computer-readable storage media may include any suitable media for downloading or transferring a computer program carried by a data signal embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium from a remote computer to a requesting computer via a communication link such as a modem, radio, or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 504 may include instructions, data, and/or code that, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform methods, processes, and/or operations as described herein. Such a machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, etc., and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, etc.

In some exemplary embodiments, logic 504 may include or be implemented as software, a software module, an application, a program, a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words, values, symbols, and the like. These instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. These instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, manner, or syntax for instructing a processor to perform a certain function. These instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled, and/or interpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

The functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments may be combined with, or used in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. It will therefore be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. A wireless communication unit comprising one or more wireless transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers, the wireless communication unit being configured to trigger a first device to: A scheduling frame is transmitted to at least indicate a downlink transmission period for wireless communication devices in a group of wireless communication devices, the scheduling frame including: A downlink transmission period field is used to indicate the downlink transmission period, during which the first device transmits simultaneously to the wireless communication device group; Before transmitting the scheduling frame, the wireless communication medium is reserved for a duration that includes at least the duration of the transmission of the scheduling frame and the duration of the downlink transmission period; and During the downlink transmission period, multiple different wireless transmissions are simultaneously transmitted to corresponding wireless communication devices in the group of wireless communication devices. 2. The wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scheduling frame includes a group address ID field for indicating the address assigned to the wireless communication device group. 3. The wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scheduling frame includes a station information STA_INFO type field. 4. The wireless communication unit as described in claim 2, wherein the group address ID field is 43 bits. 5. The wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is further configured to trigger the first device to: Receive Traffic Specification (TSPEC) information from wireless communication devices; and Based on the TSPEC information of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device is grouped with other wireless communication devices. 6. The wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the TSPEC information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of the traffic mode of the traffic flow of the first device and the quality of service of the traffic flow. 7. The wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wireless communication device group is one of a downlink synchronization group, a bidirectional synchronization group, or a bidirectional asynchronous group, and the wireless communication unit is further capable of: If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a downlink traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the downlink synchronization group. If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a two-way traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the two-way synchronization group; and If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a different traffic mode than the downlink traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data and the bidirectional traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the bidirectional asynchronous group. 8. The wireless communication unit as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the scheduling frame further comprises: An uplink transmission period field is used to indicate an uplink transmission period during which the first device receives uplink transmissions from one or more wireless communication devices in the group. 9. The wireless communication unit of claim 8, further characterized in that it can also be used to trigger the first device to send a corresponding scheduling frame of a plurality of scheduling frames to a corresponding wireless communication device in the group of wireless communication devices, the plurality of scheduling frames having different uplink transmission start offset values indicating a plurality of non-overlapping uplink transmission periods. 10. The wireless communication unit of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to trigger the first device to simultaneously receive multiple different uplink transmissions from the corresponding wireless communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices during the uplink transmission period. 11. The wireless communication unit according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the wireless communication unit is used to trigger the first device to transmit the plurality of transmissions in the form of space division multiple access transmission. 12. A system comprising a processor, a memory, one or more antennas, and a wireless communication unit, said wireless communication unit being capable of: A scheduling frame is transmitted to indicate at least downlink and uplink transmission periods for wireless communication devices in a group of wireless communication devices, the scheduling frame including: Downlink transmission period field used to indicate the downlink transmission period; An uplink transmission period field is used to indicate the uplink transmission period, during which the wireless communication unit is used to receive uplink transmissions from one or more wireless communication devices of the group; and Before transmitting the scheduling frame, the wireless communication medium is reserved for a duration that includes at least the duration of the transmission of the scheduling frame and the duration of the downlink transmission period; and During the uplink transmission period, multiple different uplink wireless transmissions are simultaneously received from corresponding wireless communication devices in the group of wireless communication devices. 13. The system as described in claim 12, characterized in that it can also be used for: During the uplink transmission period, multiple different uplink transmissions are simultaneously received from the respective wireless communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices. 14. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: Transmit a scheduling frame to at least indicate the downlink transmission period for simultaneous transmission to wireless communication devices in a group of wireless communication devices; Before transmitting the scheduling frame, the wireless communication medium is reserved for a duration that includes at least the duration of the transmission of the scheduling frame and the duration of the downlink transmission period; and During the downlink transmission period, multiple different wireless transmissions are simultaneously transmitted to corresponding wireless communication devices in the group of wireless communication devices. 15. The method of claim 14, characterized in that it comprises: Receive Traffic Specification (TSPEC) information from wireless communication devices; and Based on the TSPEC information of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device is grouped with other wireless communication devices. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the TSPEC information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of the traffic pattern of the traffic flow and the quality of service of the traffic flow. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device group is one of a downlink synchronization group, a bidirectional synchronization group, or a bidirectional asynchronous group, and the method comprises: If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a downlink traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the downlink synchronization group. If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a two-way traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the two-way synchronization group; and If the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device indicates a different traffic mode than the downlink traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data and the bidirectional traffic mode including at least one of video or voice data, the wireless communication device is assigned to the bidirectional asynchronous group. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the scheduling frame further comprises: An indication of an uplink transmission period during which uplink transmissions are received from one or more wireless communication devices of the group. 19. The method of claim 18, characterized in that it includes sending a corresponding scheduling frame of a plurality of scheduling frames to a corresponding wireless communication device in the group of wireless communication devices, the plurality of scheduling frames having different uplink transmission start offset values indicating a plurality of non-overlapping uplink transmission periods. 20. The method of claim 18, characterized in that it includes simultaneously receiving multiple different uplink transmissions from corresponding wireless communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices during the uplink transmission period. 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the scheduling frame includes a group address ID field indicating the address assigned to the wireless communication device group. 22. The method of claim 14, characterized in that it includes transmitting the plurality of transmissions in the form of space division multiple access transmission. 23. A tangible computer-readable non-transient storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one computer processor, are operable to enable the at least one computer processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 14-22. 24. A computer-implemented system comprising means for performing the method as described in any one of claims 14-22.