Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for wireless communication that can be used for channel puncturing. A wireless station (STA) may receive an indication of a first puncturing pattern to be used for transmitting or receiving data over a wireless channel, where the first puncturing pattern is defined by a first wireless communication protocol release and the STA is configured to operate according to a second wireless communication protocol release. The STA may select, from a set of puncturing patterns defined by the second wireless communication protocol release, a second puncturing pattern that includes one or more non-punctured subchannels that are subsets of one or more corresponding non-punctured subchannels of the first puncturing pattern. The STA may use the second puncturing pattern to transmit or receive one or more packets over the wireless channel.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for improved handling of adjacent channel interference in multi-link aggregation scenarios. In accordance with the described techniques, a device may establish a set of wireless links for communication with a second device, the set of wireless links supporting parallel transmission during at least a first duration of a multi-link session, the set of wireless links including at least a first wireless link and a second wireless link. The device may modify a transmission parameter for the first wireless link or a clear channel assessment (CCA) parameter for the second wireless link, or a combination thereof. The device may then perform the CCA procedure on the second wireless link and transmit at least a first portion of the message on the first wireless link based on the modified transmission parameter or modified CCA parameter.

Abstract: Various aspects of the techniques, methods and devices described in this disclosure relate generally to achieving coexistence between WLAN and P2P networks, and specifically, to coordinated D2D communications. Some aspects particularly involve extending the capabilities of TWT elements transmitted by APs to support periodic reserved access windows during which D2D-enabled wireless devices are permitted to transmit direct wireless communications. Some other aspects relate to sharing time and frequency resources via CAP TDMA or CAP OFDMA techniques, and specifically, to allocating at least some of the time and frequency resources specifically for D2D communications.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for managing data traffic in restricted target wake time (TWT) service periods (SPs). In some aspects, an access point (AP) receives a request frame from a wireless station (STA) associated with a client device via a peer-to-peer (P2P) link, the request frame indicating that the STA intends to exchange P2P communications with the client device during a r-TWT SP scheduled on a wireless medium. The AP obtains a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on the wireless medium during the r-TWT SP, the request frame identifying the client device. The AP transmits a trigger frame on the wireless medium responsive to obtaining the TXOP, the trigger frame allocating a portion of the obtained TXOP for P2P communications between the STA and the client device, wherein at least one of the response frame or the trigger frame indicates a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) exception for the client device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for synchronized channel access. Some implementations more specifically relate to facilitating coexistence among wireless communication devices that support synchronized channel access and those that do not. A group of access points may schedule periodically recurring, synchronized channel access periods by periodically transmitting quiet elements. The quiet elements establish recurring quiet periods during which legacy devices are not permitted to transmit. In some implementations, an access point may transmit one or more quiet override elements each associated with a respective quiet element and indicating to other access points supporting synchronized channel access that they are permitted to contend for access during the respective quiet period.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for using a pseudonym service set identifier (pSSID) for access point (AP) and station (STA) privacy. For example, a pSSID is included by a STA or AP in place of a persistent SSID for over the air communications used for various functions (such as for the STA to determine the SSID of the AP before connecting to the AP). The pSSID is generated using a hash function that is defined at both the AP and the STA. An input to the hash function includes the SSID. Other inputs may include a temporary media access control (MAC) address of the device generating the pSSID, a time value associated with a time when the pSSID is generated, or a location value associated with a position measurement of the device generating the pSSID.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for protecting latency-sensitive communications, during restricted target wake time (r-TWT) service periods (SPs), from non-legacy STAs that do not support r-TWT operation. Some implementations more specifically relate to preventing STAs that are not members of an r-TWT SP from acquiring transmit opportunities (TXOPs) that would otherwise overlap with the start of the r-TWT SP. In some implementations, the AP may require all non-legacy STAs associated with its basic service set (BSS) to support r-TWT operation. In some other implementations, the AP may attempt to capture a wireless channel associated with the r-TWT SP within a fixed period preceding the r-TWT SP. In some other implementations, the AP may require all associated STAs to transmit a request-to-send (RTS) frame when attempting to acquire a TXOP. Still further, in some implementations, the AP may limit the duration of TXOPs acquired by non-member STAs.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for using a variable authentication identifier (AID) for access point (AP) privacy. For example, instead of a persistent SSID, an AID is used by a station (STA) to authenticate the AP before connecting to the AP. The AP is associated with a service set, and the STA has stored a secret token associated with the service set. Before connecting to the AP, a broadcasted probe request from the STA includes no identifying information other than the token. The AP generates the AID from the token and provides the AID in a probe response. The STA is able to identify the AP as being associated with a service set and connect to the AP using the token and AID without the token and the AID being used by another device not associated with the service set to identify the AP.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for communicating over multiple links, for example, indicating buffered units (BUs) per traffic identifier (TID) for transmission to multi-link devices (MLDs). One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication. The method can be performed, for example, by a non-access point (non-AP) MLD. The non-AP MLD can receive an indication of an association identifier (AID) associated with the non-AP MLD, wherein the indication of the AID indicates whether an AP has BUs for the non-AP MLD, determine one or more links associated with one or more TIDs based on a mapping of a plurality of TIDs, including the one or more TIDs, to a plurality of links, including the one or more links, receive the BUs associated with the one or more TIDs from the AP on the determined links.

Abstract: A wireless station (STA) operating as a non-simultaneous transmit-receive (NSTR) soft access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) is associated with a primary link and a non-primary link. The NSTR softAP MLD transmits, on only the primary link, a frame including a complete profile of the primary link and indicating a complete profile of the non-primary link. The respective complete profiles of the primary link and the non-primary link each include capabilities, operation parameters, and other discovery information. The frame can include fields and elements that carry the complete profile of the primary link, and can include a multi-link (ML) element that indicates the complete profile of the non-primary link. The NSTR softAP MLD can receive or determine an update to the operation parameters of the non-primary link, and can transmit, on the primary link, an indication of the update to the operation parameters of the non-primary link.

Abstract: A wireless station (STA) operating as a non-simultaneous transmit-receive (NSTR) soft access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) associated with a primary link and a non-primary link determines that the non-primary link is unavailable, and transmits, on only the primary link, a frame carrying an indication of the unavailability of the non-primary link. The NSTR softAP MLD may set a Do Not Transmit (DNT) bit to a value of 1 and may operate as a single-link device on the primary link based on the unavailability of the non-primary link. In some instances, the NSTR softAP MLD determines that the non-primary link is available while operating as the single-link device on the primary link, resets the DNT bit based on the availability of the non-primary link, and transmits the reset DNT bit in another frame on only the primary link.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for managing data traffic in restricted target wake time (TWT) service periods (SPs). In some aspects, an access point (AP) may transmit a packet, at the beginning of a restricted TWT SP, that signals all non-member wireless stations (STAs) to defer access to the wireless medium for at least a threshold duration. Upon receiving the packet, any non-member STAs that are associated with the AP may set their network allocation vectors (NAVs) according to the duration indicated by a duration field of the received packet. In some implementations, low-latency STAs that are members of the TWT SP may not set their NAVs according to the duration field of the received packet. Instead, the low-latency STAs may access the wireless medium before the NAVs associated with the non-member STAs expire.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for priority access on a shared wireless channel. A priority station (STA), an access point (AP), or a network operator may activate a priority access service. The priority access service provides priority access to authorize priority STAs by allowing them to use more aggressive contention parameters for contention-based access of the wireless channel as compared to other STAs. In some implementations, non-priority STAs may be configured with weakened contention parameters to increase or ensure the likelihood that a priority STA will win contention for access to the wireless channel.

Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure relate to distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication such as coordinated beamforming or Joint MIMO. In some aspects, distributed MIMO is used to support communication in a cluster of wireless nodes (e.g., access points). A distributed MIMO scheduling scheme as taught herein is used to schedule the wireless nodes (e.g., access points and/or stations) operating within the cluster. For example, stations may be scheduled across basis services sets of the access points for a downlink transmission and/or an uplink transmission.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for reliable delivery of enhanced broadcast services (EBCS) downlink (DL) packets to wireless stations (STAs) that support EBCS (also referred to as “EBCS STAs”) and maintaining interoperability with STAs that do not support EBCS. A wireless communication device may broadcast one or more EBCS DL packets carrying data associated with an EBCS service. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may subsequently transmit a trigger frame soliciting information indicating which, if any, of the EBCS DL packets were missed by EBCS STAs in the vicinity. In some other aspects, each EBCS DL packet may carry signaling indicating that the broadcast data is intended only for EBCS STAs. Still further, in some aspects, the wireless communication device may broadcast an EBCS traffic advertisement indicating a timing of the one or more EBCS DL packets.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for reliable delivery of enhanced broadcast services (EBCS) downlink (DL) packets to wireless stations (STAs) that support EBCS (also referred to as “EBCS STAs”) and maintaining interoperability with STAs that do not support EBCS. A wireless communication device may broadcast one or more EBCS DL packets carrying data associated with an EBCS service. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may subsequently transmit a trigger frame soliciting information indicating which, if any, of the EBCS DL packets were missed by EBCS STAs in the vicinity. In some other aspects, each EBCS DL packet may carry signaling indicating that the broadcast data is intended only for EBCS STAs. Still further, in some aspects, the wireless communication device may broadcast an EBCS traffic advertisement indicating a timing of the one or more EBCS DL packets.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for advertising discovery information of an AP in one or more downlink (DL) transmissions. In some implementations, the AP may allocate a dedicated resource unit (RU) for advertising discovery information of the AP to stations not associated with the AP, and may allocate one or more additional RUs for DL transmissions to one or more stations associated with the AP. The AP may transmit a multi-user (MU) packet containing discovery information intended for the unassociated stations and containing non-discovery-related information intended for the one or more associated stations. The discovery information may be transmitted on the dedicated RU, and the non-discovery-related information may be transmitted on the one or more additional RUs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for improved handling of adjacent channel interference in multi-link aggregation scenarios. In accordance with the described techniques, a device may establish a set of wireless links for communication with a second device, the set of wireless links supporting parallel transmission during at least a first duration of a multi-link session, the set of wireless links including at least a first wireless link and a second wireless link. The device may modify a transmission parameter for the first wireless link or a clear channel assessment (CCA) parameter for the second wireless link, or a combination thereof. The device may then perform the CCA procedure on the second wireless link and transmit at least a first portion of the message on the first wireless link based on the modified transmission parameter or modified CCA parameter.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for implementing a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In some aspects, a first WLAN device may transmit a first HARQ frame to a second WLAN device. The first WLAN device may determine whether a first feedback message received from the second WLAN device includes HARQ acknowledgement information or non-HARQ acknowledgment information. The first feedback message may be a HARQ Block Acknowledgement (H-BA) message having a multi-station Block ACK (M-BA) frame format that includes HARQ acknowledgment information. The first WLAN device may transmit a second HARQ frame to the second WLAN device in response to determining the first feedback message includes the HARQ acknowledgment information. The first WLAN device may transmit a non-HARQ frame in response to determining the first feedback message includes non-HARQ acknowledgement information.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate a frame for triggering transmission of a plurality of data units from a plurality of wireless nodes, a first interface configured to output the frame for transmission to the plurality of wireless nodes, and a second interface configured to obtain the plurality of data units after outputting the frame for transmission, wherein the plurality of data units have different lengths.