Multiple traffic class data aggregation in a wireless local area network

A method for acknowledging receipt of a transmission in a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first communication device from a second communication device, an aggregated data unit that includes (i) multiple sets of multiple data units wherein respective ones of the multiple sets of multiple data units correspond to different traffic classes of a plurality of traffic classes, each set of multiple data units to be acknowledged by a respective block acknowledgement, (ii) one or more single data units, each single data unit to be acknowledged by a single acknowledgement, and (iii) a management frame;
• generating, at the first communication device, a block acknowledgment frame that includes a block acknowledgment control field and a block acknowledgment information field, wherein the block acknowledgment control field includes a bit to acknowledge the management frame, and wherein the block acknowledgment information field includes (i) block acknowledgement information to acknowledge the multiple sets of multiple data units, and (ii) single acknowledgment information to acknowledge the one or more single data units;
• and
• causing the block acknowledgment frame to be transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface having one or more integrated circuits configured to:
• receive an aggregated data unit that includes (i) one or more sets of multiple data units to be acknowledged by respective one or more block acknowledgements, (ii) multiple single data units to be acknowledged by respective single acknowledgements acknowledgement, and (iii) a management frame;
• generate a block acknowledgment frame that includes a block acknowledgment control field and a block acknowledgment information field, wherein the block acknowledgment control field includes a bit to acknowledge the management frame, and wherein the block acknowledgment information field includes (i) block acknowledgement information to acknowledge the one or more sets of multiple data units, and (ii) single acknowledgment information to acknowledge the multiple single data units;
• and
• cause the block acknowledgment data unit to be transmitted.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface having one or more integrated circuits configured to:
• receive an aggregated data unit that includes (i) multiple sets of multiple data units corresponding to different traffic classes of a plurality of traffic classes to be acknowledged by respective block acknowledgements, (ii) one or more single data units to be acknowledged by respective single acknowledgements acknowledgement, and (iii) a management frame;
• generate a block acknowledgment frame that includes a block acknowledgment control field and a block acknowledgment information field, wherein the block acknowledgment control field includes a bit to acknowledge the management frame, and wherein the block acknowledgment information field includes (i) block acknowledgement information to acknowledge the multiple sets of multiple data units, and (ii) single acknowledgment information to acknowledge the one or more single data units;
• and
• cause the block acknowledgment data unit to be transmitted.