Open loop multiple access for WLAN

A method for transmitting information in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

• either
• i) orthogonally multiplexing, at a network interface device, a plurality of different individual symbol streams corresponding to a plurality of different devices onto a single combined symbol stream utilizing a space time block code so that every symbol of every individual symbol stream is included in the single combined symbol stream, or
• ii) orthogonally multiplexing, at the network interface device, the plurality of different individual symbol streams onto the single combined symbol stream by mapping bits corresponding to at least two different individual symbol streams into a single quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation point so that every symbol of every individual symbol stream is included in the single combined symbol stream;
• and
• generating, at the network interface device, one or more transmit streams using the single combined symbol stream.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a wireless local area network (WLAN) network interface device configured to
• receive a physical layer (PHY) data unit that includes a plurality of different individual symbol streams corresponding to a plurality of different devices orthogonally multiplexed onto a single combined symbol stream, without using channel state information corresponding to a plurality of channels between a transmitting device and the plurality of different devices, so that every symbol of every individual symbol stream is included in the single combined symbol stream,
• receive data that indicates how one individual symbol stream corresponding to one of the plurality of different devices is orthogonally multiplexed onto the single combined symbol stream, and
• utilize the data that indicates how the one individual symbol stream is multiplexed onto the single combined symbol stream to decode data corresponding to one of the plurality of different devices in the physical layer data unit.

A tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a physical layer (PHY) data unit that includes a plurality of different individual symbol streams corresponding to a plurality of different devices orthogonally multiplexed onto a single combined symbol stream, without using channel state information corresponding to a plurality of channels between a transmitting device and the plurality of different devices, so that every symbol of every individual symbol stream is included in the single combined symbol stream;
• receive data that indicates how one individual symbol stream corresponding to one of the plurality of different devices is orthogonally multiplexed onto the single combined symbol stream;
• and
• utilize the data that indicates how the one individual symbol stream is multiplexed onto the single combined symbol stream to decode data corresponding to one of the plurality of different devices in the physical layer data unit.