Physical layer preamble and signaling for wireless communication

A method for wireless communication by a wireless communication device comprising:

• receiving, via a wireless channel, a packet including a preamble portion and a data portion, the preamble portion including:
• a universal signal field (U-SIG) that includes at least a version identifier and frequency occupation information, the frequency occupation information including a bandwidth field and a punctured channel information field;
• and
• a first signal field on one or more subchannels of the wireless channel indicated by one or more of the bandwidth field or the punctured channel information field;
• and
• decoding the first signal field on the one or more subchannels of the wireless channel in accordance with the version identifier and the frequency occupation information.

A wireless communication device comprising:

• at least one modem configured to communicate via a wireless channel;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to:
• obtain, via the at least one modem, a packet including a preamble portion and a data portion, the preamble portion including:
• a universal signal field (U-SIG) that includes at least a version identifier and frequency occupation information, the frequency occupation information including a bandwidth field and a punctured channel information field;
• and
• a first signal field on one or more subchannels of the wireless channel indicated by one or more of the bandwidth field or the punctured channel information field;
• and
• decode the first signal field on the one or more subchannels of the wireless channel in accordance with the version identifier and the frequency occupation information.

A mobile station comprising:

• a wireless communication device comprising:
• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to:
• receive, via a wireless channel, a packet including a preamble portion and a data portion, the preamble portion including:
• a universal signal field (U-SIG) that includes at least a version identifier and frequency occupation information, the frequency occupation information including a bandwidth field and a punctured channel information field;
• and
• a first signal field on one or more subchannels of the wireless channel indicated by one or more of the bandwidth field or the punctured channel information field;
• and
• decode the first signal field on the one or more subchannels of the wireless channel in accordance with the version identifier and the frequency occupation information;
• at least one transceiver coupled to the at least one modem;
• at least one antenna coupled to the at least one transceiver to wirelessly transmit signals output from the at least one transceiver and to wirelessly receive signals for input into the at least one transceiver;
• and
• a housing that encompasses the at least one modem, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, the at least one transceiver and at least a portion of the at least one antenna.