FRAME FORMAT SUPPORTING ENHANCED FEATURES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

Described is a frame format for a protocol data unit (PDU). The frame format may support enhanced features in a communication network. The first frame format is based at least in part on a second frame format that is predefined by a communication protocol. The first frame format may support enhanced features for those devices that know the first frame format and which are capable of interpreting the first frame format. Legacy devices may interpret the PDU as following the second frame format according to the communication protocol. The first frame format may be created by overloading some fields in the second frame format. The first frame format may match parts of the second frame format that are used for contention timing (or other medium synchronization). In one example, the PDU may include an instruction creating a media idle measurement period.