Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol having a non-zero backoff procedure which is bounded by setting a backoff counter to a random value greater than or equal to at least one backoff slot in starting to contend for a channel. This is preferably utilized in combination with setting the Arbitration Inter-Frame Spacing (AIFS) time to an amount less than that utilized for a legacy backoff. The parameters controlling the non-zero backoff may be set by the station performing the contention, or by an associated Access Point (AP), or in response to negotiation between the station and the AP. In some cases the station can switch between enabling and disabling the non-zero backoff procedure during different periods of time.

Abstract: An electronic device (such as an access point) that receives a modified response frame is described. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device may provide a trigger frame addressed to a second electronic device, where the trigger frame includes a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard (such as IEEE 802.11ax or a subsequent IEEE 802.11 standard). Then, the interface circuit may receive a modified response frame associated with the second electronic device, where the modified response frame is different from a response frame associated with the trigger frame specified by the IEEE 802.11 standard. When the second electronic device indicates support for the modified response frame during association with the electronic device, the interface circuit may define parameters associated with the modified response frame in an association response.

Abstract: An electronic device (such as an access point) that receives a modified response frame is described. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device may provide a management frame addressed to a second electronic device. Then, the interface circuit may provide a trigger frame addressed to the second electronic device, where the trigger frame includes a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard. Next, the interface circuit may receive a modified response frame associated with the second electronic device, where the modified response frame is different from a response frame associated with the trigger frame specified by the IEEE 802.11 standard, and modifications to the modified response frame are specified in the management frame.

Abstract: A wireless communication circuit for operating over a wireless local area network (WLAN) supporting carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) in which real time application (RTA) traffic and non-RTA traffic coexist. Channel time is scheduled for transmitting real-time application (RTA) traffic based on expected RTA packet arrival time, with the schedule being shared with neighboring stations. Schedule time is adjusted based on schedules of neighboring stations to prevent channel contention collisions of multiple RTA traffics contending for the channel. Various mechanisms are described for supporting RTA transmissions while reducing channel access latency and contention collision.

Abstract: A communication circuit and protocol for a wireless local area network (WLAN) using CSMA/CA and single EDCA and/or Multiple-User (MU) EDCA. EDCA functions are configured to operate with multiple sets of operating parameters providing a range of priority levels for altering on the fly the nominal access time for a STA sending prioritized packets. The STA then must switch to a lower-priority set of parameters as recompense so that channel usage remains fair.

Abstract: Some aspects include apparatuses and methods for implementing a target wake time (TWT) scheme (or technique) for multi-link wireless communication networks. For example, a multi-link device (MILD) includes a first station (STA) associated with a first link of a wireless network and configured to communicate with a second MLD over the first link using a multi-link target wake time (TWT) process. The MLD also includes a second STA associated with a second link of the wireless network and configured to communicate with the second MLD over the second link using the multi-link TWT process. The MLD further includes one or more processors communicatively coupled to the first and second STAs and configured to control the operations of the first and second STAs to perform the multi-link TWT process.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol allowing a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) holder to share the TXOP with other stations (STAs) residing in either the same Basic Service Set (BSS) of the TXOP holder, or in an other BSS (OBSS). An intent to share the TXOP is communicated to the Access Point (AP), and/or directly to other STAs. Scheduling information (time and duration) are shared with the STAs either directly, or through one or more APs. When the TXOP occurs, the STAs can access the channel at the time and for the duration specified, thus providing increased use of the TXOP to improve efficiency.

Abstract: Enhanced Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is performed in this protocol in which non-simultaneous transmit/receive (NSTR) Multi-Link Devices (MLDs) cooperate with each other in sharing a portion of their available Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) toward reducing contention and competition for channel access across the group of cooperating MLDs. The shared TXOP is performed at an MLD level after all links for an NSTR MLD are obtained by stations which do not need to be in part of the same NSTR MLD, thus synchronized transmissions and receptions are performed which eliminate in-device coexistence (IDC) interference in any single NSTR MLD. The time gap while awaiting for all links to be obtained, is also made use of for performing transmission(s) toward increasing data throughput.

Abstract: Enhanced TID-to-UP mapping is performed which allows multiple TIDs to be mapped to the UPs of the same AC. Thus, a first STA can set TID-to-UP mapping for a second STA, whereby TID-to-UP mapping can differentiate the MSDUs or A-MSDUs that are transmitted. In addition, an MSDU / A-MSDU can be classified by TID first, then use TID-to-UP mapping to map it to the corresponding UP. In addition, an SCS traffic stream can assign a TID and a UP to that SCS traffic stream. The use of these enhanced mechanism can enhance low latency performance.

Abstract: Stations (STAs) in the network transmit broadcast frames which incorporate sharing information about specific parameter settings in the basic service set (BSS). Updates are transmitted to the other STAs when parameter settings change, which include version information about the parameter settings. A STA receiving an update records version information, which is incorporated in any response or broadcast back to the transmitting station to indicate that the specific update was properly received. The transmitting STA can indicate which other STAs are to provide feedback to the update information. The sharing information, or indicated portions thereof, may be shared with overlapping BSS STAs as well.

Abstract: An adaptive set of RTA Adaptive EDCA rules and structures are provided to allow non-AP STAs to transmit RTA packets inside a R-TWT SP. The RTA Adaptive EDCA Parameter Set can be selected in response to receiving a trigger from the associated AP, or by pre-configuration. Non-AP STAs, as R-TWT member or non-member of the current R-TWT SP, can switch from using the regular EDCA parameters to the new RTA Adaptive EDCA parameters inside the R-TWT SP. Various rules are described for duration of use, while the AP can prevent STAs from using the new RTA Adaptive EDCA at any time inside of the R-TWT SP.

Abstract: In a MU-RTS TXS based P2P access allocation, there can be frames sent in legacy format (such as control frames in non-HT format) that do not carry a Basic Service Set Identification (BSSID) in its address fields. The Duration setting of the frames may cause a next station to be scheduled to set the basic NAV because the next station categorizes these frames as inter-BSS PPDUs. To prevent the next station from not responding to the AP's next allocation, the Duration setting of the frames are set so that they are not greater than the end time of the P2P allocation that occurs prior to the next allocation.

Abstract: Wireless IEEE 802.11 communication mechanisms are described for a member STA of a R-TWT SP to gain TXOP channel access before the R-TWT SP, which does not need to end before the start time of the R-TWT SP. On trigger based R-TWT SP, the TXOP time is shared to overlap the R-TWT SP; allowing the AP to behave as the TXOP holder for the frame exchange of latency sensitive traffic during the R-TWT SP. Thus, the R-TWT scheduling AP and member STAs of a R-TWT SP can contend for the channel together before the scheduled start time of the R-TWT SP. When one of these STAs gains channel access, it can reserve a TXOP until the scheduled end time of the R-TWT SP, which may extend beyond the normal TXOP limit.

Abstract: An enhanced method of handling block Acks, such as for latency sensitive traffic streams, for which a separate block Ack mechanism is established, which is separate from other traffic in the same TID. With this separate block Ack mechanism the recipient STA can have an independent receive reordering buffer control for latency sensitive traffic, so that the MSDU or A-MSDU of latency sensitive traffic can be passed to the next MAC process in order of increasing sequence number of the MSDUs or A-MSDUs since those MSDUs and A-MSDUs have the same QoS requirement, such as the latency time. This mechanism reduces the chances of latency sensitive traffic being stuck in a receive reordering buffer behind other traffic in the TID and having its traffic expire.

Abstract: A Real-Time Application (RTA) interface between the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Application (APP) layers of interworking communications in the OSI model for use in wireless local area networks (WLANs). The interface between MAC and APP layers can be utilized for RTA packets, while non-RTA packets can still use the regular OSI model. In initializing a new RTA session the APP layer communicates a set of requirements to the MAC layer. The MAC layer monitors the channel and measures key performance indicators (KPIs) and either accepts or rejects the request. The interoperability between the APP and MAC layers provide enhanced abilities to reduce RTA packet latencies, as well as other benefits.

Abstract: A wireless communication protocol for an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) using carrier-sense multiple-access collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) with multi-link operations. Transmit opportunities (TXOPs) are obtained by setting a random number of backoff slots, as a random backoff, for channel contention on each link, and counting down the random backoff on each link independently. When the backoff for the link reaches zero, channel access is obtained and a TXOP duration of reserved on a link whose end time cannot occur later than the latest existing TXOPs of the AP MLD. Numerous variations are described for setting the random number of backoff slots and for reserving the TXOP duration on a link.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for wireless local area network (WLAN) communication which support real-time application (RTA) packets. The access point (AP) schedules multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets by allocating resources to packet transmissions before RTA packet arrival. The AP contends for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction. The operations reduce RTA packet latency on the WLAN.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) station and protocol configured to support communicating real-time application (RTA) packets that are sensitive to communication delays as well as non-real time packets over a network supporting within traffic stream (TS) operations in which real time application (RTA) traffic and non-RTA traffic coexist. Stations can request establishing a traffic stream from neighboring stations, which can accept or deny the TS for the RTA stream. Additional information can be passed in requesting the stream or by the responder for denying the stream.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus, method or protocol for wireless STAs using CSMA/CA on a wireless local area network (WLAN). A receiver STA receives MSDUs or A-MSDUs which include an expiration time, from a transmitter STA. The receiver STA stores the MSDUs or A-MSDUs with expiration time in its receive reordering buffer of the corresponding high-throughput (HT)-immediate block acknowledgement (Ack) agreement. The receiver STA passes the MSDU or A-MSDU to a next MAC process before an expiration time of the MSDU or A-MSDU. Thus, the percentage of latency sensitive traffic packets being communicated prior to expiration is increased.

Abstract: A wireless communication protocol which operates with multi-link devices (MLDs) having simultaneous transmit and receive (STR) link pairs to allow transmitting a long MU PPDU by an originator on a first link, which is acknowledged (Ack) by a recipient on a second link. The Ack on the second link may be on a single resource unit (RU) which may be shared by multiple stations. The Ack may be received during the MP PPDU on the first link, making it a quick Ack. In many cases this allows the originator to perform a retransmission within the same PPDU, thus especially benefitting real-time traffic which is latency sensitive.