Auto-detection of repeated signals

A device comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a frame comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a first signal field and a second signal field;
• and
• a processor coupled with the receiver, wherein the processor is programmed to determine a first decision metric component that is based on a hypothesis that the second signal field is a repeated version of the first signal field, and determine a second decision metric component that is based on a hypothesis that the second signal field is not the repeated version of the first signal field,
• wherein the processor is programmed to make a determination, based on the first decision metric component and the second decision metric component, of whether the second signal field is the repeated version of the first signal field, and
• wherein the processor is programmed to decode the second portion of the frame in accordance with a first format responsive to the determination indicating that the second signal field is not the repeated version of the first signal field, and to decode the second portion of the frame in accordance with a second format responsive to the determination indicating that the second signal field is the repeated version of the first signal field.

A method comprising:

• receiving a frame comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a first signal field and a second signal field;
• determining a first decision metric component that is based on a hypothesis that the second signal field is a repeated version of the first signal field;
• determining a second decision metric component that is based on a hypothesis that the second signal field is not the repeated version of the first signal field;
• performing a determination, based on the first decision metric component and the second decision metric component, of whether the second signal field is the repeated version of the first signal field;
• and
• decoding the second portion of the frame in accordance with a first format or a second format, wherein the first format, is used for decoding based on the determination indicating that the second signal field is not the repeated version of the first signal field, and wherein the second format is used for decoding based on the determination indicating that the second signal field is the repeated version of the first signal field.