# US 8,542,696 B2 · Device, system and method of simultaneously communicating with a group of wireless communication units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,696 B2 - Document ID: US8542696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/639,061 - Filed: 2009-12-16 - Published: 2011-06-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-16 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Michelle X. Gong; Robert J. Stacey - Inventors: Michelle X. Gong; Robert J. Stacey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542696B2 ## CPC - H04W 28/0231: {based on communication conditions (dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54)} - H04W 4/08: User group management - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - H04W 72/046: {the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams} - H04W 72/121: for groups of terminals or users - H04W 72/56: based on priority criteria - H04L 12/6418: {Hybrid transport} - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of simultaneously communicating with a group of wireless communication devices. For example, a wireless communication unit may assign a plurality of wireless communication devices to at least one Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA) group based on traffic-specification (TSPEC) information corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the wireless communication unit is to simultaneously transmit a plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group, respectively. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device including: a wireless communication unit to assign a plurality of wireless communication devices to at least one Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA) group based on traffic-specification (TSPEC) information corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices to an isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a first traffic pattern, and to assign the wireless communication device to an asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a second traffic pattern, different from said first traffic pattern, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to simultaneously transmit a plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device includes information selected from the group consisting of a traffic pattern of traffic flow between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication unit, and quality of service of the traffic flow, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to the group based on said information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the TSPEC information includes a directionality of the traffic flow, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to the group based on the directionality of the traffic flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the directionality of the traffic flow includes an uplink traffic flow, a downlink traffic flow or a bidirectional traffic flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the quality of service of the traffic flow represents a priority type of the traffic flow, the priority type including a voice priority, a video priority, a best effort priority or a background priority. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit group allocation information to the plurality of wireless communication devices assigned to the group, wherein the group allocation information includes a group address assigned to the group, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit a common transmission to the plurality of wireless communication devices assigned to the group by transmitting the common transmission addressed to the group address. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the group allocation information includes an indication of an order at which the wireless communication devices of the group are to respond to the wireless communication unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to an uplink isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents an uplink traffic pattern including at least one data type selected from the group consisting of video data and voice data, wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to a downlink isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a downlink traffic pattern including said at least one date type, wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to a bi-directional isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a bidirectional traffic pattern including said at least one data type, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to a bi-directional asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents another traffic pattern. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a coordinator of a wireless communication network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit at least one scheduling frame including an indication of a downlink period, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to simultaneously transmit the plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group during the downlink period. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the scheduling frame includes an indication of an uplink period, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to simultaneously receive a plurality of different uplink transmissions from the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group during the uplink period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit the scheduling frame having an address field including a group address assigned to the group. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: assigning a plurality of wireless communication devices to at least one Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA) group based on traffic specification (TSPEC) information corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication devices, the assigning includes assigning a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices to an isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a first traffic pattern, and assigning the wireless communication device to an asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a second traffic pattern, different from said first traffic pattern; and simultaneously transmitting a plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device includes information selected from the group consisting of a traffic pattern of traffic flow corresponding to the wireless communication device, and quality of service of the traffic flow, and wherein assigning the plurality of wireless communication devices includes assigning the wireless communication device to the group based on said information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including transmitting group allocation information to the plurality of wireless communication devices assigned to the group, wherein the group allocation information includes a group address assigned to the group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including assigning the wireless communication device to an uplink isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents an uplink traffic pattern including at least one data type selected from the group consisting of video and voice data, assigning the wireless communication device to a downlink isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a downlink traffic pattern including the at least one data type, assigning the wireless communication device to a bi-directional isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a bidirectional traffic pattern including the at least one data type, and assigning the wireless communication device to a bi-directional asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents another traffic pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including transmitting at least one scheduling frame including an indication of a downlink period, and simultaneously transmitting the plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of wireless communication devices of the group during the downlink period. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: at least one wireless communication device including: one or more antennas; and a wireless communication unit to assign a plurality of other wireless communication devices to at least one Space-Division Multiple Access (SDMA) group based on traffic-specification (TSPEC) information corresponding to the plurality of other wireless communication devices, and to simultaneously transmit via the antennas a plurality of different wireless communication transmissions to the plurality of other wireless communication devices of the group, wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices to an isochronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a first traffic pattern, and to assign the wireless communication device to an asynchronous group if the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device represents a second traffic pattern, different from said first traffic pattern. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the TSPEC information corresponding to the wireless communication device includes information selected from the group consisting of a traffic pattern of traffic flow between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication unit, and quality of service of the traffic flow, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to assign the wireless communication device to the group based on said information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit group allocation information to the plurality of wireless communication devices assigned to the group, wherein the group allocation information includes a group address assigned to the group, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit a common transmission to the plurality of wireless communication devices assigned to the group by transmitting the common transmission addressed to the group address.