Simultaneous uplink transmission in a wireless network

A first communication device, comprising:

• a synchronization controller configured to
• generate a synchronization data unit, wherein the synchronization data unit (i) is to be transmitted to a plurality of second communication devices, (ii) includes information for scheduling subsequent simultaneous transmission of a plurality of communication frames by the plurality of second communication devices, and (iii) specifies a space-time mapping parameter to be utilized subsequently by the plurality of second communication devices when transmitting the plurality of communication frames to the first communication device, and
• assign a unique index to each of the plurality of second communication devices so that each of the plurality of second communication devices maps at least a portion of a respective one of the plurality of communication frames to space-time streams in a MIMO communication channel in accordance with the respective unique index;
• and
• a communication frame processor configured to process a signal received via a plurality of antennas after the synchronization data unit is transmitted, wherein the received signal includes the plurality of communication frames transmitted simultaneously from respective ones of the plurality of second communication devices in accordance with the space-time mapping parameter.

A method for use in a communication network, the method comprising:

• scheduling a first time period during which the plurality of second devices can simultaneously transmit the plurality of data units;
• generating, at a first device, a synchronization data unit to be transmitted to a plurality of second devices, wherein the synchronization data unit (i) includes information for scheduling subsequent simultaneous transmission of a plurality of data units by the plurality of second devices, the information for scheduling specifying a timing of the first time period, and (ii) specifies a space-time mapping parameter to be utilized subsequently by the plurality of second devices when transmitting the plurality of data units to the first communication device;
• and
• subsequently receiving, at the first device, the plurality of data units via a plurality of antennas during the first time period, the plurality of data units having been transmitted simultaneously from respective ones of the plurality of second devices in accordance with the space-time mapping parameter;
• scheduling a second time period;
• and
• receiving data from a single legacy device during the second time period, wherein the legacy device is not configured to transmit data to a receiver simultaneously with another device.