Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a robust unicast/broadcast/multicast protocol are provided. In one aspect, a method of avoiding collision of intra-basic service set unicast, broadcast or multicast transmissions notifies stations in the basic service set of a reserved transmit opportunity for a unicast, broadcast or multicast transmission. Transmissions from at least one station in the basic service set are deferred until after the reserved unicast, broadcast or multicast transmit opportunity.

Abstract: In a 60 Hz WGA wireless network, not all frames with the duration field are received by a STA in a WGA network because of directional antennas. Therefore, a NAV Timer cannot account for the reserved duration of the channel by only updating with the longest duration field received. A STA can receive two frames each with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses to overcome such problem. Further, a STA can receive one frame with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses with the NAVSRC and NAVDST values.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to switching of stations STA, access points APs and PCPs that are communicating through a wireless link from one frequency band to another. One embodiment is directed to switching of stations STA that are communicating through a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) link from one frequency band to another. A multiband element may be added to a TDLS discovery request and TDLS discovery response frames to allow each of the stations communications through a TDLS to determine if the other station has multiband capability. In one embodiment, a pairwise transient key (PTK) is created for both a current band in which the stations STA are communicating and a new band over which the stations may communicate in the future. In this way there is no need to calculate a new pairwise transient key PTK for the new frequency band.

Abstract: A unified contention based protocol is implemented in which a source station within a basic service set selects the protection methodology for data transmission on the communication medium. Utilizing EDCA as a medium access method and maintaining that each transmission opportunity has multiple slots, the source station is provided with the opportunity to select a protection methodology based on the protection environment, which enables transmission opportunity protection without direct PCP involvement.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) architectures for spectrum access networks are provided. Embodiments of the invention generally provide a radio frequency (RF) architecture for customer premise equipment (CPE) for use in, for example, IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area networks (WRANs). In some embodiments, the CPE RF architecture includes two receive chains with a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, respectively. The CPE RF architecture facilitates opportunistic out-of-band spectrum sensing and WRAN signal receiving that are performed in parallel with data transmission.

Abstract: This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and more particularly to a method of addressing inter-systems (cells) coexistence and spectrum sharing. The described method of spectrum sharing called On-Demand Spectrum Contention, integrates Dynamic Frequency Selection and Transmission Power Control with iterative on-demand spectrum contentions and provides fairness, adaptability, and efficiency of spectrum access for dynamic spectrum access systems using active inter-system coordination.

Abstract: TDLS support in VHT devices is enabled through the use of added VHT fields in the TDLS frames. A VHT TDLS direct link can be setup through a respective TDLS Setup Request/Response with added field announcing VHT Capabilities of the VHT device and the peer device. Added VHT Operation field in the TDLS Setup Confirm frame adds supports between VHT peer devices for non-VHT BSS and VHT BSS. Two VHT STAs can establish wider TDLS channel than BSS operating channel through TDLS establishment. VHT off channel support is enabled by adding Wide Bandwidth Channel Switch field in the TDLS Channel Switch Request frame and no changes to TDLS Channel Switch Response. A VHT Capabilities field is also added to TDLS Discovery Response frame to inform peer devices of device capabilities.

Abstract: Handover of the role of a personal basic service set coordination point (PCP) in a personal wireless area network occurs with the issuance of a PCP handover request by the existing PCP station. A response from a PCP handover capable station within the BSS includes attributes of the responding station pertinent to its ability to carry out the role of a PCP. Once a new PCP station has been identified, handover steps are undertaken to modify beacon filtering and beam-forming in other non-PCP stations within the BSS to facilitate interruption free transition from the old PCP to the new PCP.

Abstract: A wireless, specifically VHT, system that includes APs and STAs can power save during the TXOP. The AP in the system announces whether STAs in the system do SU or MU TXOP power save in a Beacon/Probe Response, and the STAs in the system transmit to the AP whether the STA is capable and willing to save power during a SU, MU, or SU+MU TXOP. For the AP, the process further involves buffering data frames for STAs that have entered doze mode until the end of TXOP. The AP further transmits to STAs a duration of TXOP in the Duration field of a RTS frame. The STA can inform the AP to enter TXOP PM mode in a bit in the HT Control field.

Abstract: A six field address scheme identifies both the originating point and the endpoint of a data frame enabling multiple hop forwarding through a plurality of intermediate mesh points in a wireless mesh network. Data frames originating or ending at a point outside of the wireless mesh network access the wireless network at a mesh access point using a legacy address scheme. The legacy address schemes are converted to a six address scheme using a proxy address table at the access point. Each mesh access point includes not only a routing table but a proxy address table as well as enabling the mesh access point, and/or mesh portal points, to convert address schemes having less than six address fields to the six field format. Subsequent to the conversion, mesh points within the wireless mesh network need only the routing table to facilitate the forwarding of the data frame.

Abstract: Contention based period beamforming includes the establishment of synchronized communications between a beamforming initiator and a beamforming responder to precisely define a start time for beamforming training. Synchronization between the beamforming initiator and beamforming responder begins with the sending of control information to the responder so that the start of the beamforming process will be synchronized. With beamforming training synchronized, beamforming is initiated using the sector sweep process.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) architectures for spectrum access networks are provided. Embodiments of the invention generally provide a radio frequency (RF) architecture for customer premise equipment (CPE) for use in, for example, IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area networks (WRANs). In some embodiments, the CPE RF architecture includes two receive chains with a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, respectively. The CPE RF architecture facilitates opportunistic out-of-band spectrum sensing and WRAN signal receiving that are performed in parallel with data transmission.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting a video frame in wireless local area network communications are proposed. In one aspect, a method generates and transmits an IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) frame containing a video transport stream (VTS) frame. The VTS frame includes a video frame and a VTS control header that includes control information with respect to the video frame.

Abstract: A protocol for collision avoidance in inter and intra basic service set broadcast/multicast communication in a wireless network is disclosed. An access point reserves a broadcast transmission time and conveys that reservation to each of its associated stations. Using a beacon or an action frame, the transmission reservation time is sent to all stations and other neighboring access points within range of the primary access point. Upon receiving the broadcast transmission time reservation, each station associated with the reserving access point and any neighboring access points set their network allocation vector thus preventing frame transmission or reception during the now reserved transmission time.

Abstract: The addition of high throughput capability elements to beacon frames and peer link action frames in wireless mesh networks enable the utilization of desirable features without further modifications to the network. Rules can be established for high throughput mesh point protection in a mesh network, Space-time Block Code (STBC) operations and 20/40 MHz operation selections. However, features such as PSMP (power save multi-poll) and PCO (phased coexistence operations) are barred from implementation to prevent collisions.

Abstract: A reliable and deterministic video communication protocol is provided. In one aspect, a method of transmitting data, audio or video frames in a basic service set having a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network transmits a transmit opportunity information element to reserve a transmit opportunity time interval. The method further transmits the data, audio or video frames to a number of the stations in the basic service set during the reserved transmit opportunity time interval. In another aspect, a method of transmitting data, audio or video frames in a basic service set having a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network first transmits protection frames to reserve a time interval, then transmits frames during the reserved time interval or during a non-reserved time interval.

Abstract: An embodiment of a receiver includes a channel estimator and a data-recovery unit. The channel estimator is configured to determine a characteristic of a channel over which a first signal, which is received simultaneously with a second signal, propagated, the first and second signals respectively having first and second components that include approximately a frequency. And the data-recovery unit is configured to recover data from the first signal in response to the determined channel characteristic. For example, such a receiver may be able to receive simultaneously, and over the same channel space, orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals that include one or more of the same subcarrier frequencies, and to recover data from one or more of the OFDM signals despite the frequency overlap. A receiver with this capability may allow an increase in the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices to simultaneously share the channel space.

Abstract: Three alternative methods of controlling transmit power in a basic service set (BSS) including a plurality of stations that have successfully synchronized with an access point include providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is not more than the lowest one of the transmit power limits of all of its operating channels, providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDU) with each channel bandwidth, or providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for each 80 MHz channel.

Abstract: In a PBSS cluster environment, the beacon interval is allocated such that each PBSS in a PBSS cluster possesses its own master sub-beacon interval. Moreover, each member of the PBSS cluster can share unoccupied sub-beacon intervals. When a master PBSS fails to use its own master sub-beacon interval or the beacon intervals which are unoccupied, the available idle time within the beacon interval can be utilized by other member PBSSs in the PBSS cluster. As available or idle beacon interval time is allocated, each master PBSS retains the highest priority to its own master sub-beacon interval thus providing immediate access to a beacon interval when necessary.

Abstract: The distribution of the service period (SP) and contention-based period (CBP) scheduling information in the data transfer time (DTT) of a beacon interval (BI) defined under the WGA Draft Specification 0.8 is selectively scheduled to optimize channel access contention. STAs in a single antenna scope or groups of STAs in multiple antennas scopes is allocated to different CBPs to decrease collisions. Simultaneous CBPs is further allocated to STAs in multiple antennas scopes where STAs have peer-to-peer traffic with other STAs in the same antenna group during part of the CBP when the personal PCP/AP is unavailable to that antenna group resulting in an increase in network throughput.