Method and apparatus for providing very high throughput operation and capability signaling for wireless communications

#This application is related to wireless communications.

#The earliest version of the IEEE 802.11 standard provided a data rate of 1 Mbps. In a subsequent amendment, namely IEEE 802.11b, a physical layer data rate of 11 Mbps was provided. With the introduction of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in the IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11a amendments for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands respectively, the data rates supported were increased to 54 Mbps at the physical (PHY) layer. The IEEE 802.11n amendment increased the data rates supported to 100 Mbps on top of the MAC layer.

#Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) with very high throughput (VHT) of greater than 100 Mbps on top of the MAC layer are being designed. VHT WLANs may also include features such as multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) techniques, coding features, power save features, and the like. MU-MIMO technology enables simultaneous transmission to multiple WTRUs on the same frequency, and also simultaneous reception from multiple WTRUs on the same frequency. VHT protection features for VHT packet transmission and legacy packet transmission will also be needed. In a scenario with densely deployed VHT APs, overlapping basic service set (OBSS) management is necessary because of high interference from neighboring BSSes. In a television white space (TVWS) scenario, independently operated networks/devices, (and even dissimilar networks/devices in radio technology), are expected to coexist and operate in the same common TVWS frequency spectrum. These are just a sample of the features and capabilities needed in VHT WLANs.

#A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1A is a system diagram of an example communications system in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented.

#FIG. 1B is a system diagram of an example wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1A.

#The term “wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU)” includes but is not limited to a station (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, a mobile internet device (MID) or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

#When referred to hereafter, the terminology “AP” includes but is not limited to a base station (BS), a Node-B, a site controller, or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

#The embodiments are described generally in a WLAN context, but the various embodiments may be implemented in any wireless communication technology. Some example types of wireless communication technologies include, but are not limited to, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 802.xx, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA2000), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), or any future technology.