Abstract: A method of performing MIMO wireless communication includes identifying a first wireless device that qualifies for inclusion in a multi-user (MU) group and identifying a set of one or more candidate wireless devices, distinct from the first wireless device, that qualify for inclusion in the MU group. The set includes a second wireless device. A determination is made that an estimated MU-mode net goodput for the first and second wireless devices is greater than an estimated average single-user-mode net goodput for the first and second wireless devices. The first and second wireless devices are included in the MU group based at least in part on the determination. A transmission is sent to the MU group. Net goodput corresponds to a number of bits that may be successfully transmitted divided by a sum of a time to transmit the number of bits and a time associated with network overhead.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for signaling the bandwidth to be used for wireless communications using an RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send) frame exchange, providing for bandwidths of at least 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or higher. This exchange of bandwidth information may be performed implicitly—by determining the channels in which the RTS/CTS frames are actually sent—or explicitly. In addition to this bandwidth information exchange, aspects of the present disclosure may also allow for Network Allocation Vector (NAV) protection in multiple channels. In this manner, the wireless medium may be reserved, and the transmission may be protected from hidden nodes.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that reduce collisions on a wireless medium shared by devices associated with a wireless network, thereby improving throughput on the wireless medium. For some embodiments, a first device reserves access to the medium for a first interval, and then grants medium access to a second device for a remainder of the first interval. If the second device transmits data during the remainder of the first interval, medium access is maintained with the second device and then the second device is prevented from contending for medium access during a subsequent contention period. Otherwise, medium access is returned to the first device and the second device is allowed to contend for medium access during the contention period.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for operating a client device to communicate with a wireless access point to validate data within a frame by comparing channel quality metrics and duration metrics to thresholds. Information received within a validity window may be treated as correctly received even if the frame fails a subsequent verification process or if reception of the frame is terminated prior to the end of the frame.

Abstract: As one example, an apparatus for wireless communications includes a processing system configured to communicate with several receivers including a first receiver and a second receiver. The processing system is configured to generate an aggregate data packet including several data packets that include a first data packet and a second data packet. The first data packet is destined for the first receiver and the second data packet is destined for the second receiver. The aggregate data packet includes a delimiter that includes a group identifier for determining, at the first receiver, that at least one of the data packets, including the first data packet, is destined for the first receiver. The group identifier is also for determining, at the second receiver, that at least one of the data packets, including the second data packet, is destined for the second receiver.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for operating a client device to communicate with a wireless access point to validate data within a frame by comparing channel quality metrics and duration metrics to thresholds. Information received within a validity window may be treated as correctly received even if the frame fails a subsequent verification process or if reception of the frame is terminated prior to the end of the frame.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for power conservation in a wireless communications system through efficient transmissions and acknowledgements of information between an AP and a station. The time between a determination by a station to enter a power saving mode and entering network sleep mode by the station may be reduced through a transmission, by an AP, of an MPDU to the station successive to an SIFS after transmission of an acknowledgement to the station of a PS-Poll frame from the station. The time to enter a power saving mode by a station may also be reduced through transmission of A-MPDUs in which a last MPDU of the A-MPDU has an indicator bit cleared to indicate no additional data is to be transmitted. An AP may prevent a retransmission of an MPDU to the station in the absence of an acknowledgement from the station, to further enhance efficiency.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for the selection, identification, and comparison of metrics used by a wireless device within range of a plurality of wireless communication systems, such as neighborhood aware networks, to determine which wireless communication system provides the desired capabilities and services. These metrics can be dynamically selected by a device and implemented for software decision making as additional wireless communication systems with new, different, or better characteristics fall within range of a given wireless device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for power conservation in a wireless communications system through efficient transmissions and acknowledgements of information between an AP and a station. The time between a determination by a station to enter a power saving mode and entering network sleep mode by the station may be reduced through a transmission, by an AP, of an MPDU to the station successive to an SIFS after transmission of an acknowledgement to the station of a PS-Poll frame from the station. The time to enter a power saving mode by a station may also be reduced through transmission of A-MPDUs in which a last MPDU of the A-MPDU has an indicator bit cleared to indicate no additional data is to be transmitted. An AP may prevent a retransmission of an MPDU to the station in the absence of an acknowledgement from the station, to further enhance efficiency.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques operating a client device to communicate with a wireless access point. The client device may awake from a low power mode of operation receive a first portion of a beacon from the access point that includes a delivery traffic identification (DTIM) message. According to the techniques described herein, the client device may determine, based on the DTIM message, whether or not one or more packets of data are forthcoming from the access point. If one or more packets of data are forthcoming from the access point, the client device may remain in an active mode of operation to receive the forthcoming packets (and/or a second portion of the beacon). However, if no packets of data are forthcoming from the access point, the client device may return to the low power mode of operation, before receiving and/or processing the second portion of the beacon.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for collision management of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method of communicating via a wireless medium by a wireless communications apparatus within a network is provided. The method includes determining first and second contention windows. The first contention window begins earlier than the second contention window. The method further includes beginning a first carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) countdown at the start of the first contention window. The method further includes beginning a second CSMA countdown when the first CSMA countdown does not end before the start of the second contention window. The method further includes transmitting the prepared frame at a time of the first CSMA countdown ending or the second CSMA countdown ending, whichever is earlier.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for collision management of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method of communicating via a wireless medium by a wireless communications apparatus within a neighborhood aware network is provided. The network is configured with periodic discovery windows, and sized for a maximum number of devices M. The method includes determining a discovery window interval K, the smallest integer greater than or equal to one, such that the probability that more than a threshold M devices will transmit during the same discovery window is less than a threshold probability P. The method further includes selecting a random or pseudo-random integer m in the range from 0 to K?1, deferring for at least m discovery windows after a previous interval K?1 has elapsed, and transmitting a discovery frame during the next discovery window after said deferring.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method for synchronizing a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving one or more synchronization messages, each synchronization message having timing information and a cluster identifier, the timing information comprising anchor timing information, the cluster identifier being the same value as a cluster identifier of the apparatus. The method further includes determining whether a difference between a time value when a received synchronization message last received anchor timing information and a time value maintained for the apparatus is greater than a threshold. The method further includes discarding the received synchronization message if the difference exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method for determining at least one of a time for exiting and a time for entering a low power sleep mode to utilize a discovery window is provided. The method includes determining an earliest possible start time of a discovery window according to a clock at the first device. The method further includes transitioning from the low power sleep mode to a higher power active mode approximately at the determined earliest possible start time, wherein the determined earliest possible start time is based at least in part on a clock drift value associated with the first device and a clock drift value associated with a second device of the wireless network.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method for synchronizing a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes initiating a contention based process for transmitting a synchronization message during a discovery time interval of a discovery time period. The synchronization message includes a first timestamp of the wireless communication apparatus. The method further includes selectively transmitting the synchronization message based on a master preference value of the wireless communication apparatus.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products communicating discovery information in a wireless neighborhood aware network (NAN). One method includes receiving, at a first wireless device, a message from a neighboring wireless device. The message includes a data structure indicative of discovered device identifiers. The method further includes determining whether the data structure indicates an identifier of the first wireless device. The method further includes transmitting a message including the identifier of the first wireless device when the data structure does not indicate the identifier of the first wireless device.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products communicating discovery information in a wireless neighborhood aware network (NAN). One method includes receiving a message from a neighboring wireless device. The message includes an identifier associated with the neighboring wireless device. The method further includes adding the identifier to a data structure indicative of discovered device identifiers. The method further includes transmitting a message including the data structure indicative of discovered device identifiers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer readable storage mediums for enabling reduced power consumption in wireless devices operating in a neighbor aware network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes generating a first message, the first message indicating beacon transmit window information, the beacon transmit window information indicating a first time interval when one or more beacon messages are transmittable, and transmitting the first message on the neighbor aware network.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for optimization of message transmission intervals in a NAN are described herein. In one aspect, a method for discovering a cluster of STA's forming a NAN is provided. The method includes generating a NAN beacon at an access point (AP). The NAN beacon includes timing information for the NAN. The timing information indicates a first time interval when one or more messages can be transmitted within the NAN. The method further includes transmitting the NAN beacon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the number of neighboring wireless devices in a wireless network are described herein. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a message from one of the neighboring wireless devices having an identifier associated with the neighboring wireless device and adding the identifier into a Bloom filter. The method may further include estimating the number of distinct strings that have been added into the Bloom filter based on the number of zeros in the Bloom filter, the number of distinct strings representing an estimate of the number of neighboring wireless devices in the wireless network.