Data unit format for multi-user data in long-range wireless local area networks (WLANs)

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to
• receive a data unit that includes a signal (SIG) field and a data field, wherein the SIG field provides information for interpreting the data field,
• detect a first symbol constellation rotation of at least a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in the SIG field of the data unit,
• determine, based on the detected first symbol constellation rotation, a number of information bits per OFDM symbol in the SIG field of the data unit,
• process the SIG field of the data unit according to the determined number of information bits per OFDM symbol in the SIG field, and
• process the data field of the data unit according to the information for interpreting the data field as provided in the SIG field of the data unit.

A method comprising:

• determining a first number of information bits per orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol to be used in generating a data field of a data unit;
• determining, based on the first number of information bits per OFDM symbol, a second number of information bits per OFDM symbol to be used in generating a signal (SIG) field of the data unit;
• determining, based on the second number of information bits per OFDM symbol, a first symbol constellation rotation;
• generating the SIG field of the data unit according to the second number of information bits per symbol, wherein
• the SIG field provides a receiver with information for interpreting the data field, and
• generating the SIG field of the data unit includes generating at least a first OFDM symbol according to the first symbol constellation rotation;
• and
• generating the data field of the data unit according to the first number of information bits per OFDM symbol.

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to
• determine a first number of information bits per OFDM symbol to be used in generating a data field of a data unit,
• determine, based on the first number of information bits per OFDM symbol, a second number of information bits per OFDM symbol to be used in generating a signal (SIG) field of the data unit,
• determine, based on the second number of information bits per OFDM symbol, a first symbol constellation rotation,
• generate the SIG field of the data unit according to the second number of information bits per OFDM symbol, wherein
• the SIG field provides a receiver with information for interpreting the data field, and
• the network interface is configured to generate the SIG field at least in part by generating at least a first OFDM symbol according to the first symbol constellation rotation, and
• generate the data field of the data unit according to the first number of information bits per OFDM symbol.