Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to selecting a transmitting virtual access point (VAP) for a MBSSID set. A method comprises selecting a VAP from a set of VAPs as a transmitting VAP based on context information about the set of VAPs, at least one of the set of VAPs other than the transmitting VAP being determined as at least one non-transmitting VAP The method also comprises generating a beacon frame for the set of VAPs by including an identifier of the transmitting VAP in a header part of the beacon frame and including at least one identifier of the at least one non-transmitting VAP in a payload part of the beacon frame. A generated beacon frame is broadcasted. In this way, a transmitting VAP of a set of VAPs is no longer determined by default, but can be selected for different cases.

Abstract: Examples of techniques for dynamically controlling data bursts are described. In an example, an access point (AP) monitors a link quality between the AP and a client device associated with the AP. The AP determines a channel occupancy of a channel in which the AP is configured to operate. In response to determining that the channel occupancy is less than a channel busy threshold, the AP modifies a burst duration for traffic flow between the AP and the client device based on the link quality. The AP communicates with the client device using the channel for the modified burst duration.

Abstract: Examples described herein relate to an investigator device and a method for determining a condition of an antenna of an access point (AP). At least one investigator device may receive one or more antenna condition test frames transmitted via a plurality of antennas of the AP Further, the at least one investigator device may determine an average received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value corresponding to each of the plurality of antennas based on the one or more antenna condition test frames. A condition of the plurality of antennas of the AP may be determined based on a relative comparison between the average RSSI value corresponding to each of the plurality of antennas of the AP. Moreover, in some examples, the at least one investigator device may send a notification to an administrator of the AP based on the condition of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A dynamic BSS color feature for co-hosted virtual access points is described. An example of a storage medium includes instructions to operations including enabling, by an access point, a dynamic basic service set (BSS) color feature for operation with multiple virtual access points (VAPs) hosted by the access point; switching a parameter of the access point to indicate that no co-hosted BSS is present; assigning a different BSS color to each of the VAPs; performing access point operations, including utilizing the assigned BSS colors for transmissions relating to any of the VAPs; and disabling the dynamic BSS color feature upon occurrence of one or more conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are configured to receive a first request to schedule a Time To Wake (TWT) service period (SP) for a first station. The first request can be based on individual TWT protocol. That the TWT SP satisfies a threshold level of similarity with an existing TWT SP maintained for a group of at least one station scheduled to communicate over the existing TWT SP can be determined. The group can include a second station. The first station can be assigned to the group. A first packet can be transmitted to the first station and a second packet can be transmitted to the second station over the existing TWT SP.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for leveraging uplink (U)L scheduling information obtained by way of Quality of Service (QoS) Null/QoS Data frames and Media Access Control (MAC) headers transmitted by any station (STA). This UL scheduling information can be read by any access point (AP) in an extended service set (ESS), and used to improve network performance. For example, an AP may use such UL scheduling information (from STAs associated to co-channel APs in the same ESS) to minimize the latency for UL latency-sensitive traffic in that ESS. Additionally, an AP may use such UL scheduling information to minimize contention amongst STAs connected to different APs on the same channel in the same ESS, thereby improving system capacity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a short data frame sent at a particular rate that can be used to probe a channel on which an access point is operating. The rate can be increased/decreased depending on whether or not transmission of the short data frame was successful or not. In this way, the highest possible rate (which can be impacted by any or all of the following factors: number of spatial streams, modulation and coding scheme, channel bandwidth, guard interval) can be selected to transmit data on the channel. In other words, a transmission rate can be selected dynamically and on a per-packet basis for a spatial reuse data frame that would follow the short data frame based on whether transmission of the short data frame was successful.

Abstract: Currently, spatial reuse (SR) is a feature used indiscriminately for/across all traffic classes. However, systems and methods are provided for increasing the reliability of voice traffic and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Acknowledgement (ACK) messaging. The result is improved quality of voice calls, and enhanced network capacity. When the length of a data section of a packet suggests that subsequent packets are associated with voice traffic or TCP ACKs, such packets are not transmitted when another transmission(s) is occurring under spatial reuse. When a determination is made that the length of a data section of the packet suggests non-voice traffic or TCP ACKs, they can be transmitted simultaneously with other transmissions occurring under spatial reuse.

Abstract: An access point (AP) in a deployment may be attacked by a rogue AP. The rogue AP may transmit fake beacons that include a fake/incorrect basic service set (BSS) color that does not match the BSS color assigned to/used by the AP under attack. Due to this BSS color mismatch, stations associated to the AP under attack may switch to the fake/incorrect BSS color, and communications between the AP under attack and the stations may be disrupted, and can eventually lead to service denial. Systems and methods are provided for leveraging the BSS color feature to identify when a rogue AP is attacking another AP. Upon detecting an attack, the BSS color feature may be disabled to mitigate the level of service disruption to the AP under attack and the stations associated to that AP.

Abstract: A method for protecting 802.11 ax networks includes receiving, by an access point, a plurality of Single User (SU) Quality of Service (QOS) NULL frames from a station, tracking, by the access point as the plurality of SU QOS NULL frames are received, a variable in one or more of the plurality of SU QOS NULL frames, determining, by the access point and based on tracking the variable, the station is suspicious, sending, by the access point and in response to determining the station is suspicious, a request to check a status of the variable, determining, by the access point and based on a response to the request, the station is under attack, and flagging, by the access point, the station as under an attack.

Abstract: Currently, spatial reuse (SR) is a feature used indiscriminately for/across all traffic classes. However, systems and methods are provided for reducing channel access latency via selective application of SR for latency-sensitive and high-priority traffic. If a radio frequency (RF) signal is detected on a channel used by an access point (AP) or a client device, a determination can be made as to whether the energy of the RF signal relative to SR energy level thresholds permits transmission on that channel used simultaneously by another, e.g., neighboring AP. If so, frames can be transmitted so long as the other neighboring AP is associated with a different basic service set (BSS) color than that of the AP, and so long as the frames to be transmitted belong to a high-priority/low-latency traffic access category.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using multiple MBSSIDs associated with groups of VAPs for an AP. The groups of VAPs can be determined for an AP based on various characteristics that separate one group of VAPs from another group of VAPs. Each group of VAPs can be associated with an MBSSID based on the BSSIDs of the VAPs in the group of VAPs. The AP can broadcast the MBSSIDs of each group of VAPs instead of broadcasting an MBSSID for all VAPs associated with the AP.

Abstract: The full efficiency gains of the Target Wake Time (TWT) mechanism specified in the 802.11ax standard may not be realized when stations associated to an access point (AP) are spread across multiple Base Station Service Identifiers (BSSIDs). In such a scenario, TWT as conventionally utilized/specified in the 802.11ax standard, cannot properly coordinate sleep/wake schedules for stations due to associating to different BSSIDs. Accordingly, various embodiments are directed to grouping stations associated to multiple BSSIDs of an AP to allow for the synchronization (or staggering) of TWT, and facilitate multi-user transmissions, both in the uplink and downlink directions.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a channel sounding procedure of a multi-link device (MLD) is disclosed. The improved channel sounding procedure disclosed herein involves an MLD requesting channel sounding information from a group of receivers on a first channel representing a first physical frequency, but receiving channel sounding information from a subgroup of the receivers on one or more other channels representing different physical frequencies. In this manner, the channel sounding procedure on a specific link of an MLD is optimized by offloading some of the sounding process to a different radio link that is also operational for the MLD as part of the same association context.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for leveraging uplink (U)L scheduling information obtained by way of Quality of Service (QoS) Null/QoS Data frames and Media Access Control (MAC) headers transmitted by any station (STA). This UL scheduling information can be read by any access point (AP) in an extended service set (ESS), and used to improve network performance. For example, an AP may use such UL scheduling information (from STAs associated to co-channel APs in the same ESS) to minimize the latency for UL latency-sensitive traffic in that ESS. Additionally, an AP may use such UL scheduling information to minimize contention amongst STAs connected to different APs on the same channel in the same ESS, thereby improving system capacity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aggregating Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) destined for different peers, and may have the same or different source address information, e.g., within the same or across different virtual access points (VAPs). For example, trigger frames used to signal to devices which subchannel(s) those devices can utilize, may be aggregated. For example, a multi-VAP/multi-device block acknowledgement for acknowledging packets transmitted to devices belonging to different VAPs can be sent as an aggregated MPDU.

Abstract: The full efficiency gains of the Target Wake Time (TWT) mechanism specified in the 802.11ax standard may not be realized when stations associated to an access point (AP) are spread across multiple Base Station Service Identifiers (BSSIDs). In such a scenario, TWT as conventionally utilized/specified in the 802.11ax standard, cannot properly coordinate sleep/wake schedules for stations due to associating to different BSSIDs. Accordingly, various embodiments are directed to grouping stations associated to multiple BSSIDs of an AP to allow for the synchronization (or staggering) of TWT, and facilitate multi-user transmissions, both in the uplink and downlink directions.

Abstract: A method for protecting 802.11 ax networks includes receiving, by an access point, a plurality of Single User (SU) Quality of Service (QOS) NULL frames from a station, tracking, by the access point as the plurality of SU QOS NULL frames are received, a variable in one or more of the plurality of SU QOS NULL frames, determining, by the access point and based on tracking the variable, the station is suspicious, sending, by the access point and in response to determining the station is suspicious, a request to check a status of the variable, determining, by the access point and based on a response to the request, the station is under attack, and flagging, by the access point, the station as under an attack.

Abstract: A dynamic BSS color feature for co-hosted virtual access points is described. An example of a storage medium includes instructions to operations including enabling, by an access point, a dynamic basic service set (BSS) color feature for operation with multiple virtual access points (VAPs) hosted by the access point; switching a parameter of the access point to indicate that no co-hosted BSS is present; assigning a different BSS color to each of the VAPs; performing access point operations, including utilizing the assigned BSS colors for transmissions relating to any of the VAPs; and disabling the dynamic BSS color feature upon occurrence of one or more conditions.