Link adaptation for multi-user transmission in 802.11 systems

A method performed by a network device in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) for transmitting link adaptation information, the method comprising:

• generating a frame having a Media Access Control (MAC) header, wherein the MAC header includes a control field including a first bit corresponding to a foremost bit of the control field and a second bit immediately following the first bit, wherein a value of the second bit of the control field indicates whether the control field has a High Efficiency (HE) variant field format, and wherein the control field is to include an indication of one or more link adaptation feedback values associated with a wireless communications link between the network device and a second network device;
• determining a link adaptation feedback value for an entire operation bandwidth of the wireless communications link;
• inserting an indication of the link adaptation feedback value for the entire operation bandwidth in the control field;
• determining a link adaptation feedback value for a given subchannel among a plurality of subchannels into which the operation bandwidth of the wireless communications link is divided;
• inserting an indication of the link adaptation feedback value for the given subchannel in the control field, wherein the indication of the link adaptation feedback value for the given subchannel is indicated as a difference between the link adaptation feedback value for the given subchannel and the link adaptation feedback value for the entire operation bandwidth;
• and
• transmitting the frame to the second network device through a wireless medium.