Abstract: A wireless network having one or more access points and one or more stations may improve spectrum efficiency for uplink transmissions by assigning a plurality of stations to a channel (or subchannel), each with a different priority. A channel may be assigned to a first station with the first priority, a second station with a second priority, and so on (e.g., instead of assigning the channel to just one station). An access point may transmit information indicative of the channel assignments, priorities, and other information used by stations to perform uplink transmissions. If a station with the highest priority receives the data from the access point, it may start transmission. A station with a lower priority may listen, during a listening period, to the same channel and determine whether the higher priority station started transmission during the listening period.

Abstract: An access point in a random access wireless network is presented, which performs medium access control for transmissions from a plurality of stations to the access point using a carrier sense multiple access protocol. The CSMA protocol is based on the access point having a variable sensitivity level to detecting other transmissions on a wireless channel in order to avoid data collisions. In a dense network environment, the sensitivity level can be reduced to avoid detecting transmissions to other access points, and thus improve area efficiency.

Abstract: When contending for access to a radio channel (for example CSMA/CA in Wi-Fi), an apparatus selects a first clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold that is higher than a minimum; determines to temporarily use a second CCA threshold that is lower than the first CCA threshold; and based on this determination it selects the second CCA threshold for a specified time period. In one embodiment this determination is based on the apparatus' use of a spectrum relative to a threshold usage level which may be calculated as a number of successful transmissions by the apparatus on the spectrum over a predefined time period; and/or as a deferring time experienced by the apparatus with respect to the spectrum over a predefined time period. In an embodiment the specified time period comprises a backoff time, and the determination to temporarily use the second CCA threshold is triggered by a periodic timer.

Abstract: A wireless network having one or more access points and one or more stations may improve spectrum efficiency for uplink transmissions by assigning a plurality of stations to a channel (or subchannel), each with a different priority. A channel may be assigned to a first station with the first priority, a second station with a second priority, and so on (e.g., instead of assigning the channel to just one station). An access point may transmit information indicative of the channel assignments, priorities, and other information used by stations to perform uplink transmissions. If a station with the highest priority receives the data from the access point, it may start transmission. A station with a lower priority may listen, during a listening period, to the same channel and determine whether the higher priority station started transmission during the listening period.

Abstract: When contending for access to a radio channel (for example CSMA/CA in Wi-Fi), an apparatus selects a first clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold that is higher than a minimum; determines to temporarily use a second CCA threshold that is lower than the first CCA threshold; and based on this determination it selects the second CCA threshold for a specified time period. In one embodiment this determination is based on the apparatus' use of a spectrum relative to a threshold usage level which may be calculated as a number of successful transmissions by the apparatus on the spectrum over a predefined time period; and/or as a deferring time experienced by the apparatus with respect to the spectrum over a predefined time period. In an embodiment the specified time period comprises a backoff time, and the determination to temporarily use the second CCA threshold is triggered by a periodic timer.

Abstract: An access point in a random access wireless network is presented, which performs medium access control for transmissions from a plurality of stations to the access point using a carrier sense multiple access protocol. The CSMA protocol is based on the access point having a variable sensitivity level to detecting other transmissions on a wireless channel in order to avoid data collisions. In a dense network environment, the sensitivity level can be reduced to avoid detecting transmissions to other access points, and thus improve area efficiency.

Abstract: There is provided a method, including receiving, by a receive node, a transmission request message for data transmission from a transmit node of a first basic service set, wherein the transmission request message includes an indication of a modulation and coding scheme to-be-used in the data transmission; detecting signal strength of the transmission request message; determining, based on the signal strength and the indicated modulation and coding scheme, a maximum tolerable interference level during the data transmission; and in response to the transmission request message, generating and sending, to the transmit node, a transmission permission message including an indication of the maximum tolerable interference level.

Abstract: There is provided a method, comprising: receiving, by a target node of a wireless access network, a signal from a first source node; determining the angular sector in which the first source node is located with respect to the target node; responding to the signal by both transmitting a first message omni-directionally and transmitting a second message directionally towards the angular sector; and establishing a first resource reservation on a frequency channel at least partly on the basis of transmitting the first message and the second message, wherein the first resource reservation is for performing directional data transfer with the first source node.

Abstract: There is provided a method, comprising: receiving, by a target node of a wireless access network, a signal from a first source node; determining the angular sector in which the first source node is located with respect to the target node; responding to the signal by both transmitting a first message omni-directionally and transmitting a second message directionally towards the angular sector; and establishing a first resource reservation on a frequency channel at least partly on the basis of transmitting the first message and the second message, wherein the first resource reservation is for performing directional data transfer with the first source node.

Abstract: Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to improve user experience and security in sharing Wi-Fi network credentials. A method embodiment comprises receiving in a wireless device, a wireless message including private credential information to access a wireless network; determining by the wireless device, that the received private credential information is not stored in a cache of known network access points in the wireless device; and storing by the wireless, the received private credential information, in a credential database for network access points.

Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method and apparatus to detect with a hybrid automatic repeat request function a collision between an uplink packet re-transmission and a new uplink packet transmission within a hybrid automatic repeat request process, and in response, to dynamically allocating resources for transmitting the new uplink packet transmission in a different hybrid automatic repeat request process that does not collide with the uplink packet re-transmission. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the invention, there is a method and apparatus to transmit a packet re-transmission in a hybrid automatic repeat request process using a semi-persistently scheduled uplink resource, and responsive to receiving a dynamic allocation of a different hybrid automatic repeat request process, to transmit a new packet using the dynamically allocated different hybrid automatic repeat request process.

Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method and apparatus to detect with a hybrid automatic repeat request function a collision between an uplink packet re-transmission and a new uplink packet transmission within a hybrid automatic repeat request process, and in response, to dynamically allocating resources for transmitting the new uplink packet transmission in a different hybrid automatic repeat request process that does not collide with the uplink packet re-transmission. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the invention, there is a method and apparatus to transmit a packet re-transmission in a hybrid automatic repeat request process using a semi-persistently scheduled uplink resource, and responsive to receiving a dynamic allocation of a different hybrid automatic repeat request process, to transmit a new packet using the dynamically allocated different hybrid automatic repeat request process.