Method and system for optional closed loop mechanism with adaptive modulations for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless local area network (WLAN) system

A method for communicating information, the method comprising:

• performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a MIMO communications system:
• generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU);
• configuring a value for a closed loop indicator field, wherein a header portion of said generated physical layer protocol data unit comprises said closed loop indicator field;
• and
• transmitting said generated physical layer protocol data unit via a plurality of spatial streams, utilizing beamforming, based on said configured value for said closed loop indicator field.

A system for communicating information in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communications system, the system comprising:

• a receiver, in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communications system, that is operable to receive signals via a plurality of spatial streams;
• said receiver is operable to compute a corresponding geometric mean signal to noise ratio (SNR) value for each of said plurality of spatial streams based on said received signals;
• said receiver is operable to select a corresponding plurality of modulation type identifiers and/or one or more coding rate identifiers based on said plurality of computed corresponding geometric mean signal to noise ratio values;
• said receiver is operable to communicate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), via one or more uplink radio frequency (RF) channels, said communicated physical layer protocol data unit comprising one or more fields comprising said selected corresponding plurality of modulation type identifiers;
• and
• said receiver is operable to receive one or more subsequent physical layer protocol data units, wherein a header portion of said received one or more subsequent physical layer protocol data units comprises a plurality of modulation type identifier values, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of modulation type identifier values is based on at least a portion of one or both of said selected corresponding plurality of modulation type identifiers and/or said selected one or more coding rate identifiers.

A system for communicating information, the system comprising:

• a transmitter, for use in a MIMO communications system, said transmitter is operable to generate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU);
• said transmitter is operable to configure a value for a closed loop indicator field, wherein a header portion of said generated physical layer protocol data unit comprises said closed loop indicator field;
• and
• said transmitter is operable to transmit said generated physical layer protocol data unit via a plurality of spatial streams, utilizing beamforming, based on said configured value for said closed loop indicator field.