Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first low-k dielectric layer having a first k value, and a second low-k dielectric layer having a second k value lower than the first k value. The second low-k dielectric layer is overlying the first low-k dielectric layer. A dual damascene structure includes a via with a portion in the first low-k dielectric layer, and a metal line over and joined to the via. The metal line includes a portion in the second low-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for providing wideband channel access to wireless devices, such as 20 MHz only wireless stations. A Target Wakeup Time (TWT) Channel field contains a bitmap indicating a temporary primary channel for using during a TWT Service Period (SP). The temporary primary channel is determined through a negotiation between a requesting STA and a responding STA, and the responding STA assigns resource units (RUs) to the requesting STA according to the temporary primary channel. After the TWT SP, the requesting STA switches back to a primary channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming a first capping layer on a dielectric structure over a substrate, and patterning the dielectric structure and the first capping layer to define cavities within the dielectric structure. A conductive material is formed within the cavities and a second capping layer is formed on the conductive material. An etch stop layer is formed along sidewalls and over an upper surface of the second capping layer. The etch stop layer has a first thickness over the first capping layer and a second thickness over the second capping layer. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

Abstract: A data unit (e.g., a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU)) is detected at a first wireless device that is a member of a basic service set (BSS). The data unit was sent on a channel from a second wireless device that is a member of an overlapping basic service set (OBSS). When the first wireless device ignores the data unit and obtains a transmit opportunity for the channel according to a spatial reuse procedure, then the first wireless device is prohibited from transmitting a frame to a device that is a member of the OBSS during the time interval associated with the transmit opportunity.

Abstract: A data unit (e.g., a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU)) is detected at a first wireless device of a basic service set (BSS). The data unit was sent on a channel from a second wireless device of an overlapping basic service set (OBSS). The data unit is wide-bandwidth, occupying both a primary channel and a secondary channel of the wireless network. The first and second wireless devices are within a same spatial reuse group (SRG). The first wireless device stores the channel bandwidth of the data unit and a receive duration time of the data unit. During the receive duration time of the data unit, a SRG OBSS power density threshold is applied on the secondary channels that are within the channel bandwidth of the data unit, instead of applying a non-SRG OBSS power density threshold on those secondary channels.

Abstract: A method of data communication for a communication device in a wireless ad hoc network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a service publish message and a service subscribe message from a first communication device of a first service cluster and a second communication device of a second service cluster respectively, wherein the second communication device subscribes a service from the first communication device, and establishing a third service cluster including the first communication device and the second communication device, wherein a schedule of the third service cluster for the communication device, the first and second communication devices of the third service cluster to wake up for data transmission and reception is determined by the communication device or coordinated by the communication device, the first and the second communication devices.

Abstract: A method of determining a distance between mobile wireless devices can include determining a format and bandwidth supported by an initiating Station (STA) and a responding Station (STA) and exchanging one or more sets of Null Data Packet (NDP) frames between the initiating Station (STA) and the responding Station (STA) using the determined format and bandwidth. The distance between the initiating Station (STA) and the responding Station (STA) can then be determined based on timing measurements of the one or more sets of Null Data Packet (NDP) frames exchanged between the initiating Station (STA) and the responding Station (STA).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting A-MSDU data transfer in an A-MPDU system includes sending capability information from a first network device, receiving onto the first network device an A-MPDU frame that includes A-MSDU data, and sending an acknowledgment from the first network device. A bit field in the capability information indicates if inclusion of A-MSDU data in an A-MPDU payload is supported. The first network device is a wireless station (STA). The first network device is part of a peer-to-peer network. The A-MSDU is in a data enabled immediate response context. A bit field in the capability information indicates if receiving an A-MPDU frame including A-MSDU data carried in a QoS Data frame without a block acknowledgment agreement is supported.

Abstract: A method of data acknowledgement includes: transmitting data from a wireless station, transmitting a Block Acknowledgement Request (BAR) from the wireless station, and receiving a Block Acknowledgement (BA) by the wireless station. In one example, the step of transmitting BAR by the wireless station requests an acknowledgment for transmitted data with an access category that has the same priority as the a primary access category. In another example, the step of transmitting BAR by the wireless station requests an acknowledgment for transmitted data with an access category that has the same or higher priority than a primary access category. A wireless device includes at least one transceiver to exchange data with another wireless device, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to: transmit data, transmit a Block Acknowledgement Request (BAR), and receive a Block Acknowledgement (BA).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide secure ranging measurements for wireless devices in multi-user (MU) mode. Specifically, a signaling procedure between an initiating wireless station (ISTA) and a responding wireless station (RSTA) is used to enable protection of randomized LTF sequences used in the secure ranging measurements. The signaling procedure may be performed in a HEz or VHTz mode and may include performing error recovery when operating in the HEz mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing secure ranging measurements between wireless devices are disclosed herein according to embodiments of the present invention. The described embodiments use key values to indicate which LTF sequence (e.g., LTF measurement exchange) to use for performing wireless ranging measurements. A LTF sequence that is received by a wireless device that does not correspond with the associated key value is determined to be invalid. Invalid LTF sequences may be disregarded as signal noise.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metal interconnect structure with capping layers that provide for improved reliability. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has a dielectric layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and one or more metal layer structures disposed within the dielectric layer. A first capping layer is located over the dielectric layer at positions between the one or more metal layer structures, so that the first capping layer is located along an interface having the one or more metal layer structures interspersed between the first capping layer. A second capping layer is located over the one or more metal layer structures. An etch stop layer is arranged over the first capping layer and the second capping layer and laterally surrounds the second capping layer.

Abstract: A novel feedback schemes are introduced to assistant link adaptation for re-transmissions and to improve the network throughput and efficiency. When reception failure is a type B failure, then a failure report (FR) frame is feedback from the destination STA to the source STA. In the failure report frame, link adaptation information and information on failure causes are included.

Abstract: A method of sounding and feedback with channel quality information and reduced overhead is provided. A receiving station receives a sounding signal transmitted from an access point over multiple sub-channels of a wide channel in a wireless network. The receiving station detects channel quality based on the received sounding signal for each sub-channel. The receiving station then performs channel estimation based on the received sounding signal and thereby determining feedback information. Finally, the receiving station transmits a feedback message to the access point, the feedback message contains NULL feedback information, reduced feedback information, or channel integrity/quality indicators based on the channel quality information for each sub-channel. Based on the feedback message, the access point may repeat the sounding process, narrow the transmission bandwidth, or select only stations who have indicated uncorrupted channel sounding for MU-MMO transmission.

Abstract: A method of performing OFDMA transmission with aggregation from multiple access categories to improve channel utilization of a wireless channel is proposed. In one novel aspect, data from multiple access categories are allowed to be aggregated and transmitted in the same packet to utilize idle time efficiently. In downlink OFDMA, AP can send different AC data to different STAs so that AP can better arrange the transmission resource block. If the resource for one STA has long enough idle time, AP can aggregate more data that is different to the current AC for the same STA to better utilize the resource. In UL OFDMA, different STAs can send different AC data to AP. If the resource for one STA has long enough idle time, the STA can aggregate more data that is different to the current AC to better utilize the resource.

Abstract: A method of indoor positioning using Fine Timing Measurement (FTM) protocol with multi-antenna access point (AP) is proposed. In a wireless local area network, an AP has multiple antennas that are strategically located in different physical locations. The AP is used to exchange FTM frames with a wireless station for timing measurement of the FTM frames via its multiple antennas independently. The timing measurement result (e.g., timestamps of transmitting and receiving FTM frames) is then used to determine an absolute location of the station. A simplified Indoor Location operation with simplified deployment is achieved.

Abstract: A unified channel contention scheme is proposed such that spatial reuse can be enabled by a wireless station (STA) when a basic service set (BSS) color of a received signal cannot be resolved. If the detected frame is an intra-BSS frame, then the STA should not contend the channel for the PPDU duration. If the detected frame is an inter-BSS frame, then the STA uses OBSS Packet Detection (OBSS-PD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. Furthermore, when BSS color cannot be resolved, channel contention schemes for WiFi signal and non-WiFi signal are differentiated. If the received signal is detected as WiFi signal, then the STA uses WiFi-SIG Detection (WD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. If the received signal is detected as non-WiFi signal, then the STA uses Non-WiFi-SIG Detection (NWD) level as the CCA level for channel contention.

Abstract: A device-centric discovery mechanism requiring very low power consumption to find out information about each other directly in a self-managed mobile environment is proposed. A mobile communications device joins a self-managed communications network, which does not have a centralized management entity. The mobile device receives a request from a peer communications device about publishing a service or subscribing to a service in accordance with a first schedule. The mobile device announce the request on behalf of the peer communications device in accordance with a second schedule. The service is then provided by a service advertiser to a service seeker in accordance with a third schedule.

Abstract: A method of improved allocation of uplink resources in an OFDMA network is proposed. A wireless communications station (an AP) reserves both dedicated resource and contention resource for uplink OFDMA operation for a list of communications devices (STAs). The AP can switch between random access operation and non-random access operation without the need for any special protection mechanisms. In the event of an increase in uplink OFDMA frame collisions the AP can switch from random operation to non-random operation to reduce the number of collisions. In the event of a decrease in uplink OFDMA frame collisions the AP can switch from non-random operation to random operation to reduce required AP processing. The AP can also dynamically control a STA access probability to reduce the number of collisions by reducing the number of uplink OFDMA frames each STA transmits.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a many to one communication protocol. In one novel aspect, a modified CTS is sent by a receiving wireless communications station in response to a regular RTS. The modified CTS includes an indication for an uplink MU operation. In one embodiment, a modified CTS indicates a restricted access window (RAW) followed by RAW parameter set (RPS). In one embodiment, a subset of wireless communications devices associated with the receiving wireless communications station sends modified PS-poll with uplink data indication. Such PS-poll traffic is protected from passerby wireless communications devices from an OBSS. The receiving wireless communications station sends a modified resource-allocation map frame followed by a regular CTS frame. The subsets of wireless communications devices send their uplink data based on the received resource allocation map.