Group identification and definition within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• generating a first group definition field, a first multi-user packet, a second group definition field, and a second multi-user packet, wherein:
• the first group definition field specifies a first group of a plurality of wireless communication devices that is associated with a first association ID (AID) of a first wireless communication device and a second AID of a second wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• the second group definition field specifies a second group of the plurality of wireless communication devices that is associated with a third AID of a third wireless communication device and a fourth AID of a fourth wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, transmitting the first group definition field to the plurality of wireless communication-devices within a first transmission;
• via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, transmitting the first multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a second transmission that is different than and subsequent to the first transmission, wherein the first multi-user packet includes a first group identification field (group ID) that, when interpreted based on the first group definition field, specifies that the first multi-user packet is intended for the first group of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the first AID and the second AID associated with in the first group as specified by the first group definition field, a first field to be processed by the first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices within a first subset, and a second field to be processed by the second wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the first subset;
• via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, transmitting the second group definition field to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a third transmission;
• and
• via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, transmitting the second multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a fourth transmission that is different than and subsequent to the third transmission, wherein the second multi-user packet includes a second group ID that, when interpreted based on the second group definition field, specifies that the second multi-user packet is intended for the second group of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the third AID and the fourth AID associated with in the second group as specified by the second group definition field, a third field to be processed by the third wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices within a second subset, and a fourth field to be processed by the fourth wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the second subset.

A wireless communication device comprising:

• a communication interface;
• and
• a processor, the processor and the communication interface are configured to:
• generate a group definition field and a multi-user packet;
• transmit the group definition field to a plurality of wireless communication devices within a first transmission, wherein the group definition field specifies a group of the plurality of wireless communication devices that is associated with a first association ID (AID) of a first wireless communication device and a second AID of a second wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• transmit the multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a second transmission that is different than the first transmission and that is transmitted subsequently to the first transmission, wherein the multi-user packet includes a group identification field (group ID) that, when interpreted based on the group definition field, specifies that the multi-user packet is intended for the group of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the first AID and the second AID associated with the group as specified by the group definition field, a first field therein to be processed by the first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices and a second field therein to be processed by a second wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• transmit at least one additional group definition field to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a third transmission;
• and
• transmit at least one additional multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices within a fourth transmission that is different than the third transmission and that is transmitted subsequently to the third transmission, wherein the multi-user packet includes at least one additional group ID that, when interpreted based on the group definition field, specifies a third field therein to be processed by the first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices and a fourth field therein to be processed by the second wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices.