Ranging null data packets for wide bandwidth networks

A first wireless communication device, comprising:

• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one memory, the at least one processor operable to cause the first wireless communication device to:
• transmit a first physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the first physical layer protocol data unit is associated with a bandwidth that is greater than 160 megahertz (MHz), wherein a first preamble of the first physical layer protocol data unit includes a first universal signal (U-SIG) field, wherein the first U-SIG field includes a first set of bits that indicates that the first physical layer protocol data unit is a first ranging null data packet, and wherein the first set of bits comprises:
• one or more reserved bits that are designated as either one or more disregard or one or more validate bits, or
• one or more bits of a type and compression mode field;
• and
• receive a second physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the second physical layer protocol data unit is associated with the bandwidth that is greater than 160 MHz, wherein a second preamble of the second physical layer protocol data unit includes a second U-SIG field, and wherein the second U-SIG field includes a second set of bits that indicates that the second physical layer protocol data unit is a second ranging null data packet.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a first wireless communication device, comprising:

• means for transmitting a first physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the first physical layer protocol data unit is associated with a bandwidth that is greater than 160 megahertz (MHz), wherein a first preamble of the first physical layer protocol data unit includes a first universal signal (U-SIG) field, wherein the first U-SIG field includes a first set of bits that indicates that the first physical layer protocol data unit is a first ranging null data packet, and wherein the first set of bits comprises:
• one or more reserved bits that are designated as either one or more disregard or validate bits, or
• one or more bits of a type and compression mode field;
• and
• means for receiving a second physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the second physical layer protocol data unit is associated with the bandwidth that is greater than 160 MHz, wherein a second preamble of the second physical layer protocol data unit includes a second U-SIG field, and wherein the second U-SIG field includes a second set of bits that indicates that the second physical layer protocol data unit is a second ranging null data packet.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a first wireless communication device, the code comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to:

• transmit a first physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the first physical layer protocol data unit is associated with a bandwidth that is greater than 160 megahertz (MHz), wherein a first preamble of the first physical layer protocol data unit includes a first universal signal (U-SIG) field, wherein the first U-SIG field includes a first set of bits that indicates that the first physical layer protocol data unit is a first ranging null data packet, and wherein the first set of bits comprises:
• one or more reserved bits that are designated as either one or more disregard or validate bits, or
• one or more bits of a type and compression mode field;
• and
• receive a second physical layer protocol data unit, wherein the second physical layer protocol data unit is associated with the bandwidth that is greater than 160 MHz, wherein a second preamble of the second physical layer protocol data unit includes a second U-SIG field, and wherein the second U-SIG field includes a second set of bits that indicates that the second physical layer protocol data unit is a second ranging null data packet.