Patent Application
20240188135
Wireless communications devices, e.g., access points (APs) or non-AP devices can transmit various types of information using different transmission techniques. For example, various applications, such as, Internet of Things (IOT) applications can conduct wireless local area network (WLAN) communications, for example, based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards (e.g., Wi-Fi standards). Some applications, for example, video teleconferencing, streaming entertainment, high definition (HD) video surveillance applications, outdoor video sharing applications, etc., require relatively high system throughput. Back-off techniques can be used to reduce or avoid communication collisions and/or improve communications throughputs in a wireless network (e.g., a WLAN), allowing for more data to be transmitted.
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for wireless communications are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a controller configured to select backoff channels of subchannels of a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel and a wireless transceiver configured to announce to a second device the backoff channels of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel for use in communicating between the device and the second device, where the subchannels include a primary subchannel and at least one non-primary subchannel. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
In an embodiment, the controller is further configured to decide whether the device and the second device have medium synchronization information.
In an embodiment, the backoff channels include 20 Megahertz (MHz) backoff channels.
In an embodiment, the subchannels include 80 MHz subchannels or 160 MHz subchannels, and the BSS operating channel includes a 160 MHz BSS operating channel or a 320 MHz BSS operating channel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit a data unit to the second device in a backoff channel of the non-primary subchannel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce a backoff channel of a subchannel covered by a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) as a dummy primary channel for resource unit (RU) coding to the second device when a bandwidth (BW) of a PPDU transmitted between the device and the second device is wider than a BW of a subchannel of the BSS operating channel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to perform backoff through one of the backoff channels when the primary subchannel is busy because of a neighbor BSS's transmission opportunity (TXOP).
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce in a management frame whether backoff on a non-primary subchannel is allowed in a BSS.
In an embodiment, the controller is further configured to allocate different priorities to the subchannels of the BSS operating channel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce the different priorities of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to start a transmit opportunity for data unit exchanges with the second device after a backoff counter reaches zero.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce using a management frame, where the management frame is one of a Beacon Frame, a Probe Response Frame, and an Association Response Frame.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to send a message to the second device to park in a non-primary subchannel that includes a backoff channel.
In an embodiment, the device includes a wireless access point (AP), and the second device includes a non-AP station (STA) device.
In an embodiment, the device is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol.
In an embodiment, the device is a component of a multi-link device (MLD).
In an embodiment, a wireless AP includes a controller configured to select 20 MHz backoff channels of subchannels of a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel and a wireless transceiver configured to announce to a non-AP STA device the backoff channels of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel for use in communicating between the wireless AP and the non-AP STA device, where the subchannels include a primary subchannel and at least one non-primary subchannel.
In an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is further configured to perform backoff through one of the backoff channels when the primary subchannel is busy because of a neighbor BSS's transmission opportunity (TXOP).
In an embodiment, the controller is further configured to allocate different priorities to the subchannels of the BSS operating channel.
In an embodiment, a method for wireless communications involves selecting backoff channels of subchannels of a BSS operating channel and announcing the backoff channels of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel for use in wireless communications, where the subchannels include a primary subchannel and at least one non-primary subchannel.
Other aspects in accordance with the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention.
Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
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An Access Point (AP) can allocate its BSS operating channel to multiple subchannels (e.g., each 80 Megahertz (MHz) subchannel of a 160 MHz BSS channel, each 80 MHz subchannel of a 320 MHz BSS channel or each 160 MHz subchannel of a 320 MHz BSS channel), where each subchannel includes one backoff 20 MHz channel. The subchannel with the primary 20 MHz channel as the special backoff 20 MHz channel is the primary subchannel and a subchannel without the primary 20 MHz channel is a non-primary subchannel. In some implementations, the 20 MHz backoff channel of each of the different multiple subchannels is not punctured. If the primary subchannel is busy because of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) of a neighbor BSS, the AP and its associated STAs switch to a non-primary subchannel and do frame exchanges on the non-primary subchannel after the backoff on the backoff 20 MHz channel of the non-primary 20 MHz channel. At the end of the neighbor BSS's TXOP, the AP and its associated STAs switch back to the primary subchannel to do the frame exchanges after the backoff procedure in the primary 20 MHz channel. Such a switch from one subchannel to another subchannel is a dynamic subchannel switch.
Multiple 20 Megahertz (MHz) channels can be the backoff 20 MHz channels. One restriction may be that in each basic service set (BSS) operating subchannel (e.g., every 80 MHz channel (BSS subchannel) of 320 MHz BSS operating channel, a backoff 20 MHz channel is defined). An AP/STA with multiple backoff 20 MHz channels can perform simultaneous backoff on the multiple 20 MHz backoff channels. Another option may be that at any time the backoff is performed in one 20 MHz backoff channel. A further restriction may be that when the primary 20 Mhz channel is busy, the other 20 MHz backoff channel is used for the backoff. In an implementation, when each 80 MHz channel has one backoff channel, a multi-user (MU) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in a secondary 160 MHz channel needs to indicate a dummy primary 20 MHz channel that is used to define Resource Units (RUS) in the MU PPDU in the secondary 160 MHz channel. In an implementation, when a multi-user (MU) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) covers one subchannel, the backoff channel of the subchannel is the dummy primary 20 MHz channel that is used to define Resource Units (RUS) in the MU PPDU.
In an example, when a non-AP STA (STA1) of a non-simultaneously transmit and receive (STR) (NSTR) link pair or an Enhanced Multilink Single-Radio (EMLSR) link pair performs frame exchange in one link and another STA (STA2) of the NSTR link pair or the EMLSR link pair cannot perform Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), STA2 loses the medium synchronization. After the condition(s) that make(s) STA2's CCA failing disappear(s), STA2 starts a MediumSyncDelay timer. Before the MediumSyncDelay timer becomes 0, STA2 can perform the backoff per energy detect (ED) level (−72 dbm if announced by the AP multi-link device (MLD) or −62 dbm as default value) if STA1 also finishes its frame exchanges with the associated AP. After the backoff counter becomes 0, STA2 can transmit a Request to Send (RTS) message to solicit a Clear to Send (CTS) message. This CTS soliciting is based on the assumption that the APs of affiliated AP MLD are all in STR links.
Some examples of backoff on non-primary 20 MHz channel is described as follows. No all STAs/APs that can perform backoff on non-primary 20 MHz channel can do the CCA simultaneously on multiple 20 MHz channels. A STA/AP that cannot perform simultaneous CCA on multiple 20 MHz channels may lose the medium synchronization of a BSS subchannel after the frame exchanges in other BSS subchannel(s). A STA/AP that that can perform backoff on non-primary 20 MHz channel may lose the medium synchronization when it transmits a long PPDU (e.g., longer than 72 microseconds (μs)). In a BSS subchannel, both the AP/STA that transmit RTS (request to send) and the peer device that is the recipient of the RTS may lose the medium synchronization. When Subchannel Selective Transmission (SST) is enabled, in a BSS subchannel, both the AP and STA may have the medium synchronization information, i.e., the network allocation vector (NAV) timer and PHY CCA are the current medium usage state.
Some examples of PPDU with PPDU bandwidth (BW) more than the BSS subchannel BW are described as follows.
In a first option, each BSS subchannel can have a backoff 20 MHz channel. In some embodiments, for each PPDU BW that is wider than a BSS subchannel BW, an AP announces the backoff 20 MHz channel of a BSS subchannel covered by the PPDU as the dummy primary 20 MHz for the RU coding, e.g., the different priorities are given to the different backoff 20 MHz channels and the backoff 20 MHz channel with the highest priority being covered by the PPDU is the dummy primary 20 MHz channel. In a first example, in secondary 160 MHz channel where BSS subchannel is 80 MHz channel, the backoff 20 MHz channel of lowest 80 MHz channel in secondary 160 MHz channel is the dummy 20 MHz channel for the RU coding. In a second example, in secondary 320 MHz channel where BSS subchannel is 80 MHz channel, the backoff 20 MHz channel of highest 80 MHz channel in secondary 160 MHz channel is the dummy 20 MHz channel for the RU coding. In a third example, in 240 MHz channel where BSS subchannel is 80 MHz channel and the primary 20 MHz channel is not included, the dummy 20 MHz channel of 160 MHz channel is the dummy 20 MHz channel for the RU coding. In a fourth example, in 240 MHz channel where BSS subchannel is 80 MHz channel and the primary 20 MHZ channel is not included, the dummy 20 MHz channel of 160 MHz channel is the primary 20 MHz channel for the RU coding since 240 MHz channel is 320 MHz channel with 80 MHz channel being punctured (the PPDU indicate 320 MHz BW with 80 MHz being punctured). In one embodiment, if a PPDU BW covers the primary 20 MHz channel, the primary 20 MHz channel is the reference for the RU coding.
In a second option, the secondary 80 MHz channel has one backoff 20 MHz channel. The secondary 160 MHz channel has one backoff 20 MHz channel.
Some examples of medium access synchronization are described as follows.
In a first option, when the primary 20 MHz is busy because of the neighbor BSS's TXOP, the backoff through the other backoff 20 MHz channel is done. In some embodiments, the TXOP that is acquired through a backoff on a non-primary backoff 20 MHz channel ends no later than the end of the primary 20 MHz channel's TXOP. In some embodiments, when both sides lose the medium synchronization, transmitting RTS after backoff through ED level is not allowed. For example, the transmitting of the other frames is not allowed by IEEE 802.11be.
In a second option, when the primary 20 MHz is busy because of the neighbor BSS's TXOP, the backoff through the other backoff 20 MHz channel is done. In some embodiments, the TXOP that is acquired through a backoff on a non-primary backoff 20 MHz channel ends no later than the end of the primary 20 MHz channel's TXOP. In some embodiments, when both sides lose the medium synchronization, transmitting RTS after backoff through ED level is allowed. In some embodiments, after receiving the RTS, if the NAV timer has 0 value and the PHY CCA per ED level indicates the medium is idle Point coordination function (PCF) Interframe Space (PIFS) before the RTS reception, the CTS can be transmitted (or is idle Short Interframe Space (SIFS) after the RTS reception in another embodiment). In one embodiment, the initiating control frame can be Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) Trigger, Bandwidth Query Report Poll (BQRP) Trigger, MU-RTS, or another control frame instead of RTS frame.
In a third option, it is up to the AP/STA to decide which backoff 20 MHz channel is selected for the backoff. In some embodiments, when both sides lose the medium synchronization, transmitting RTS after backoff through ED level is not allowed. For example, the transmitting of the other frames is not allowed by IEEE 802.11be.
In a fourth option, it is up to the AP/STA to decide which backoff 20 MHz channel is selected for the backoff. In some embodiments, when both sides lose the medium synchronization, transmitting RTS after backoff through ED level is allowed. In some embodiments, after receiving the RTS, if the NAV timer has 0 value and the PHY CCA per ED level indicates the medium is idle PIFS before the RTS reception, the CTS can be transmitted.
Some examples of announcement of the non-primary channel backoff usage by the neighbor BSS are described as follows. With such announcement by an AP, the STAs associated with AP can adjust their behavior for better coexistence with the neighbor BSS, e.g., to avoid the medium synchronization loss of the neighbor BSS when switching back from the secondary TXOP to the primary channel backoff in the neighbor BSS. In some embodiments, an AP announces in the management frame (e.g., Beacon, Probe Response) whether the backoff on nonprimary 20 MHz channel is allowed in its BSS. In some embodiments, a STA notifies its associated AP whether it detects that the neighbor BSS can do the backoff on nonprimary 20 MHz channel. In some embodiments, an AP announces whether there is any neighbor BSS that allows backoff on nonprimary 20 MHz channel per AP's reception of neighbor BSS and/or associated STA's notification. In some embodiments, when the AP announces that the neighbor BSS can do the backoff on nonprimary 20 MHz channel, the AP and the STAs associated with the AP use multiple protection to protect the TXOP. In some embodiments, the Duration/ID field indicates the end of the TXOP.
Examples of priorities of multiple subchannels are described as follows. In some embodiments, when an AP has multiple subchannels, the priorities are given to the subchannels for the subchannel switch when the primary subchannel that has primary 20 MHz channel is busy. The primary subchannel may have the highest priority. In a first option, the AP announces the subchannels and the priorities of each subchannel. In a second option, the priorities of the subchannels are decided by the location of the subchannels, whether a subchannel is firstly combined with the primary subchannel without puncture and whether a subchannel is near the primary subchannel.
Some examples of RU index of MU PPDU under multiple subchannels are described as follows. In some embodiments, for the same RU in a downlink/uplink (DL/UL) multi-user (MU) PPDU, the different STAs may figure out the different RU index when the following happen, the MU PPDU covers multiple subchannels, the different STAs or AP and STA assume the 20 MHz channels in the different subchannels as the backoff 20 MHz channels for RU index acquiring, and/or the clarification of the RU index of a RU is required. In a first option, based on the backoff 20 MHz channel being used for the backoff and single subchannel being used for the MU PPDU transmission if the backoff 20 MHz channel is not the primary 20 MHz channel. In a second option, based on the backoff 20 MHz channel with the highest priority covered by the PPDU BW even if the backoff 20 MHz channel is punctured. In a third option, if the backoff 20 MHz channel is not the primary 20 MHz channel, the BSS BW is always used when figuring out the RU index of the MU PPDU even if the MU PPDU BW is narrower than the BSS operating BW.
Some examples of backoff in various subchannels are described as follows. For example, whether AP and STA perform the backoff on non-primary subchannel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, when switching to a subchannel that does not include primary 20 MHz channel, only the AP can do the backoff. The associated STAs are not allowed to perform the backoff when switching to a subchannel that does not include primary 20 MHz channel. In a second option, when switching to a subchannel that does not include primary 20 MHz channel, the AP can perform the backoff. The AP will announce whether the associated STAs can perform the backoff when switching to a subchannel that does not include primary 20 MHz channel. In a third option, when switching to a subchannel that does not include primary 20 MHz channel, both the AP and the associated STAs can perform the backoff.
Some examples of frame exchange through backoff in non-primary subchannel are described as follows. For example, when to enable the frame exchanges after switching to a non-primary subchannel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in a non-primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the non-primary channel is not less than the maximal transition delay of the peer devices (AP or STAs) that can do the secondary subchannel switch, the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively. If a STA or an AP backoff counter in a non-primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the non-primary channel is less than the maximal transition delay of the peer devices (AP or STAs) that can do the secondary subchannel switch, the STA/AP needs to start another backoff. In a second option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in a non-primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the non-primary channel is not less than the transition delay of the selected TXOP responder(s) (AP or STAs), the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively. If a STA or an AP backoff counter in a non-primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the non-primary channel is less than the transition delay of the selected TXOP responder(s) (AP or STAs), the STA/AP needs to start another backoff. In a third option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in a non-primary subchannel becomes 0, the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively.
Some examples of frame exchange through backoff in primary subchannel are described as follows. For example, when to enable the frame exchanges after switching to a primary subchannel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in the primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the primary channel is not less than the maximal transition delay of the peer devices (AP or STAs) that can do the secondary subchannel switch, the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively. If a STA or an AP backoff counter in a primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the primary channel is less than the maximal transition delay of the peer devices (AP or STAs) that can do the secondary subchannel switch, the STA/AP needs to start another backoff. In a second option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in a primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the primary channel is not less than the transition delay of the selected TXOP responder(s) (AP or STAs), the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively. If a STA or an AP backoff counter in a primary subchannel becomes 0 and the time starting from the STA/AP switching to the primary channel is less than the transition delay of the selected TXOP responder(s) (AP or STAs), the STA/AP needs to start another backoff. In a third option, if a STA or an AP backoff counter in a primary subchannel becomes 0, the STA/AP can initiate the frame exchanges with the AP/STA(s) respectively.
Some examples of channel switch under multiple non-primary subchannels are described as follows. For example, when to perform the channel switch from one non-primary channel to another non-primary channel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, if in one of the non-primary subchannels an AP or STA detects medium busy, the AP/STA needs to switch the next non-primary subchannel with lower priority until the non-primary subchannel with the lowest priority. In a second option, if in one of the non-primary subchannels an AP or STA detects medium busy, it is up to the AP/STA to decide whether switch the next non-primary subchannel with lower priority until the non-primary subchannel with the lowest priority. In a third option, a TXOP duration threshold is defined so that when the medium of a non-primary subchannel is busy through 20 MHz channel's CCA of the nonprimary subchannel and the TXOP duration is longer than the TXOP duration threshold, the AP and the STAs switch to another non-primary channel.
When to perform the channel switch from the primary subchannel to another non-primary channel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, a TXOP duration threshold is defined so that when the medium is busy through the primary 20 MHz channel's CCA and the TXOP duration is longer than the TXOP duration threshold, the AP and the STAs switch to the non-primary channel.
When to perform the channel switch from a non-primary subchannel to the primary channel can be implemented in various options. In a first option, at the end of the TXOP of the primary subchannel, the AP and STAs switch back to the primary subchannel for the CCA. In a second option, at the end of the TXOP of the non-primary subchannel initiated by the AP or the associated STA of the AP, the AP and the STAs switch back to the primary subchannel for the CCA.
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In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the controller 1304 is configured to select backoff channels of subchannels of a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel and the wireless transceiver 1302 is configured to announce to a second wireless device the backoff channels of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel for use in communicating between the wireless device 1300 and the second wireless device, where the subchannels include a primary subchannel and at least one non-primary subchannel. In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to decide whether the wireless device 1300 and the second wireless device have medium synchronization information. In some embodiments, the backoff channels include 20 Megahertz (MHz) backoff channels. In some embodiments, the subchannels include 80 MHz subchannels or 160 MHz subchannels, and the BSS operating channel includes a 160 MHz BSS operating channel or a 320 MHz BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit a data unit to the second wireless device in a backoff channel of the non-primary subchannel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce a backoff channel of a subchannel covered by a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) as a dummy primary channel for resource unit (RU) coding to the second wireless device when a bandwidth (BW) of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) transmitted between the wireless device and the second wireless device is wider than a BW of a subchannel of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to perform backoff through one of the backoff channels when the primary subchannel is busy because of a neighbor BSS's transmission opportunity (TXOP). In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce in a management frame whether backoff on a non-primary subchannel is allowed in a BSS. In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to allocate different priorities to the subchannels of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce the different priorities of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to start a transmit opportunity for data unit exchanges with the second wireless device after a backoff counter reaches zero. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce using a management frame, where the management frame is one of a Beacon Frame, a Probe Response Frame, and an Association Response Frame. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to send a message to the second wireless device to park in a non-primary subchannel that includes a backoff channel. In some embodiments, the wireless device is a wireless access point (AP), and the second wireless device is a non-AP station (STA) device. In some embodiments, the wireless device is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol. In some embodiments, the wireless device is a component of a multi-link device (MLD).
In some embodiments, the wireless device 1300 is a wireless AP that includes the controller 1304 configured to select 20 MHz backoff channels of subchannels of a BSS operating channel and the wireless transceiver 1304 configured to announce to a non-AP STA device the backoff channels of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel for use in communicating between the wireless AP and the non-AP STA device, where the subchannels include a primary subchannel and at least one non-primary subchannel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to perform backoff through one of the backoff channels when the primary subchannel is busy because of a neighbor BSS's TXOP. In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to allocate different priorities to the subchannels of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to decide whether the wireless AP and the non-AP STA device have medium synchronization information. In some embodiments, the subchannels include 80 MHz subchannels or 160 MHz subchannels, and the BSS operating channel includes a 160 MHz BSS operating channel or a 320 MHz BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit a data unit to the non-AP STA device in a backoff channel of the non-primary subchannel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce a backoff channel of a subchannel covered by a PPDU as a dummy primary channel for RU coding to the non-AP STA device when a bandwidth (BW) of a PPDU transmitted between the wireless AP and the non-AP STA device is wider than a BW of a subchannel of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce in a management frame whether backoff on a non-primary subchannel is allowed in a BSS. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce the different priorities of the subchannels of the BSS operating channel. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to start a transmit opportunity for data unit exchanges with the non-AP STA device after a backoff counter reaches zero. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce using a management frame, where the management frame is one of a Beacon Frame, a Probe Response Frame, and an Association Response Frame. In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver is further configured to send a message to the non-AP STA device to park in a non-primary subchannel that includes a backoff channel. In some embodiments, the wireless AP is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 protocol. In some embodiments, the wireless AP is a component of a multi-link device (MLD).
Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.
It should also be noted that at least some of the operations for the methods described herein may be implemented using software instructions stored on a computer useable storage medium for execution by a computer. As an example, an embodiment of a computer program product includes a computer useable storage medium to store a computer readable program.
The computer-useable or computer-readable storage medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device). Examples of non-transitory computer-useable and computer-readable storage media include a semiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include a compact disk with read only memory (CD-ROM), a compact disk with read/write (CD-R/W), and a digital video disk (DVD).
Alternatively, embodiments of the invention may be implemented entirely in hardware or in an implementation containing both hardware and software elements. In embodiments which use software, the software may include but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
This application is entitled to the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/386,319, filed on Dec. 6, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/507,510, filed on Jun. 12, 2023, the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63386319 | Dec 2022 | US | |
| 63507510 | Jun 2023 | US |
