Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communicating in a multi-band cluster. A multi-band member access point (MMAP) may be capable of communicating with a multi-band control access point (MCAP) using a first frequency band, and capable of communicating with associated stations (STAs) using a second frequency band. The MMAP may transmit data in the second frequency band to the associated STA, may transmit a request for interference information in the second frequency band to at least one associated STA, may receive an interference report in the second frequency band from the at least one associated STA, may transmit information in the first frequency band to the MCAP, wherein the information is based on the interference report received from the at least one associated STA in the second frequency band, and may receive, from the MCAP in the first frequency band, information regarding radio resource management of the second frequency band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may be used to support coordinated and cooperative sectorized transmissions. Power control and clear channel assessment for sectorized transmissions may be used, along with sectorized beacon and associated procedures. Transmissions in a network may be protected by a first access point (AP) sending an omni-directional transmission and a beamformed or sectorized transmission to a station (STA), an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) confirming a spatially orthogonal (SO) condition based on the omni-directional transmission, and a second AP monitoring the omni-directional transmission and confirming the SO condition. The STA may be configured to receive a request-to-send (RTS) frame indicating data is available for transmission, and transmit a cooperative sectorized (CS) clear-to-send (CTS) frame indicating an ability for multiple AP reception.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for WiFi sectorization and beamforming. In one embodiment, an access point (AP) may send a Request to Send (RTS) to a first station (STA), receive a Sectorized Coordinated Beam (CB/S)-Clear to Send (CTS) from the first STA, and receive a CBS-CTS from a second STA. The AP may then send a Null Data Packet (NDP) Announcement (NDPA), followed by a NDP. The NDP may be sent using sub-sector beamforming. The AP may receive feedback from the first STA, and may create a targeted beam to transmit data to the first STA. The AP may determine sector order and timing based on the feedback. The AP may also identify whether the STA is a sector-edge STA or non-sector-edge (or sector center) STA. The AP may allow the STA to transmit based on whether the STA is assigned to the sector-edge or non-sector edge group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may provide multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA) and/or single-user parallel channel access (SU-PCA) using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth, in the downlink (DL), uplink (UL), or combined DL and UL. SU-PCA and MU-PCA may support unequal modulation and coding schemes (MCS) and unequal transmit power. Medium access control (MAC) layer, Physical layer (PHY), and mixed and PHY layer methods and procedures may support UL, DL and combined UL and DL SU-PCA and MU-PCA using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth. MU-PCA and/or SU-PCA may also be supported by MAC and PHY layer designs and procedures for downlink, uplink and combined uplink and downlink using transmit/receive with asymmetrical bandwidth.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are described to implement an interference management method in a WLAN. An access point (AP) or an inter-BSS coordinator (IBC) may identify a station (STA) associated with a first basic service set (BSS) as an edge STA or a non-edge STA. The AP or the IBC may group the edge STA into an edge group and a non-edge STA into a non-edge group. The AP or the IBC may receive information associated with a second BSS. The AP or the IBC may coordinate access of the edge group and/or the non-edge group. The access may be coordinated to minimize interference of the edge STA. The access may be based at least on the received information associated with the second BSS. The AP or the IBC may adjust transmit power of a plurality of STAs identified as edge group STAs and non-edge group STAs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are provided to implement transmission scheduling. A multiband device may send a request via a first frequency band. The request may include a multiband Request to Send (MRTS) transmission. The request may be associated with a second frequency band and/or a beamforming training schedule. The first frequency band may be associated with a quasi-omni transmission and the second frequency band may be associated with a directional transmission. The first frequency band may be a 5 GHz band and the second frequency band may be a 60 GHz band. The multiband device may receive a multiband Clear to Send (MCTS) transmission via the first frequency band confirming the request. The multiband device may be configured to send a beamforming signal in accordance with the request, for example, via the second frequency band. The beamforming signal may be sent in accordance with a beamforming training schedule.

Abstract: A station is used to implement non-linear coding based multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO). The station includes a processor that may be configured to perform a number of actions. For example, the processor receives a null packet from an access point (AP). Channel feedback is generated using the null packet. The channel feedback is sent to the AP. QR dependent information is received from the AP. Data is sent to the AP according to the QR dependent information.

Abstract: A method for associating a new end-station (end-STA) with a relay access point (R-AP) in a relay transmission. An assignment of a new identifier is transmitted to the new end-STA, wherein traffic indication map indications for the new end-STA in a beacon from the R-AP follows the transmission of the new identifier assignment. A message is sent to a root access point (AP), the message including an indication of a number of information fields in the message and at least one information field, each of the at least one information fields including an identifier of one end-STA associated with the R-AP. An acknowledgement is received from the root AP on a condition that the root AP correctly receives the message and associates an identifier of the end-STA with an identifier of the R-AP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described herein for performing loop power control and transmission power control (TPC) in a wireless network. Described herein are methods including using separate power control loops for communication with an entire wireless network and for point-to-point (P2P) transmissions and separate power control loops for omni-directional and directional beamformed transmissions. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for requesting clear channel assessment (CCA) measurements and adjusting CCA thresholds and transmission power based on the reported measurements. Methods and apparatuses are also described wherein access points (APs) coordinate transmission power to reduce interference with each other and to determine optimal transmission power to each mobile station (STA).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for training and feedback in sectorized transmissions. An IEEE 802.11 station may receive a Sector Training Announcement frame from an AP. The station may then receive a plurality of Training frames from the AP, wherein each of the plurality of Training frames is separated by a short interframe space (SIFS) and each of the plurality of Training frames is received using a different sectorized antenna pattern. The station may generate a Sector Feedback frame indicating a sector based on the plurality of Training frames. The station may send the Sector Feedback frame to the AP. The Sector Feedback frame may indicate a desire to enroll in sectorized transmissions. Alternatively, the Sector Feedback frame may indicate a desire to change sectors.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable medium may be used to perform beamforming. The method may include a first communication device sending a first plurality of beamforming training frames to a second communication device using a first beamforming weight vector; the first communication device receiving from the second communication device a second beamforming weight vector; and the first communication device sending a second plurality of beamforming training frames to the second communication device using the second beamforming weight vector. The apparatus, method, system, and computer readable media may use spatial diversity with beam switching, spatial diversity with a single beam, weighted multipath beamforming training, single user spatial multiplexing, and beamforming training for beam division multiple access (BDMA).

Abstract: Link adaptive retransmission techniques are provided for use in connection with wireless communications between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device generates M packet error information values for the transmit session of a packet based on whether an acknowledgment message or a non-acknowledgment message is received from the second wireless communication device for a transmission and for previously sent transmissions even if less than M transmissions are sent by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device upon completion of the transmit session. The first wireless communication device computes a retransmission fading margin based on the M packet error information values, from which an effective carrier-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is derived for selection of a modulation scheme.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for improving multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications, and in particular to dynamically determining when to switch MIMO transmission modes on a communication link between two devices that are capable of supporting multiple MIMO transmission modes. A base station receives from a client device one or more signals containing information representing a first signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurement and a second SNR measurement made by the client device. The first SNR measurement is associated with a first MIMO transmission mode and the second SNR measurement is associated with a second MIMO transmission mode. The base station computes a MIMO channel quality indicator from the first SNR measurement and the second SNR measurement, and evaluates the MIMO channel quality indicator to determine whether to switch MIMO transmission modes for transmissions to the client device.

Abstract: Methods for WiFi beamforming, feedback, and sounding (WiBEAM) are described. Codebook based beamforming feedback signaling and sounding mechanisms for use in wireless communications are disclosed. The methods described herein improve the feedback efficiency by using Givens rotation based decompositions and quantizing the resulting angles of the Givens rotation based decompositions using a range from a subset of [0, 2?]. Feedback may also be divided into multiple components to improve feedback efficiency/accuracy. Time domain beamforming reports for taking advantage of channel reciprocity while still taking into account practical radio frequency (RF) channel impairments are also described. Beamforming feedback that prioritizes the feedback bits in accordance with the significance of the bits is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting acknowledgements in response to data packets in wireless communication are disclosed. A recipient may receive a plurality of data packets from a plurality of stations and transmit acknowledgements for the data packets to the originating stations in a single transmission. The acknowledgements may be transmitted using multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO). Alternatively, the acknowledgements may be aggregated and transmitted in the single transmission. A short acknowledgement (ACK) frame may be sent in response to a received frame. The short ACK frame may include an ACK sequence corresponding to a sequence identity (ID) included in the received frame. The short ACK frame may include a short training field (STF) and the ACK sequence. The short ACK frame may be transmitted with a short ACK indication. The short ACK frame may be sent in response to an indication included in the received frame.

Abstract: WTRUs, access points (APs) and methods thereon are disclosed. A method on a WTRU may include receiving a message from an AP that comprises a beamformee capability element; sending a second message to the AP that comprises a beamformer capability element; and receiving, from the AP, a third message in response to the second message that indicates a group to which the WTRU is assigned. The group may be based on the beamformer capability element and the group may indicate UL transmission information to be used by the WTRU. A method on an AP may include determining a group for multiple WTRUs based on a received beamformer capability element. A method on a WTRU may include sending to an AP a message with a low overhead preamble for UL MU-MIMO. The low overhead preamble may include LTFs that enable the AP to distinguish the WTRU from other WTRUs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may be configured to support coordinated orthogonal block-based resource allocation (COBRA) operations. An access point (AP) may be configured to indicate to a plurality of stations (STA)s that it may support COBRA. Each WTRU may be configured to indicate to the AP that it can support COBRA as well. The AP may be configured to transmit a COBRA controller information element (IE) comprising a plurality of fields to each of the WTRUs. Each WTRU may be configured to transmit a COBRA controllee IE comprising a plurality of fields. STA grouping management, group maintenance, channel access, beamforming, sounding and frequency and synchronization procedures are also described.

Abstract: A method for beacon information provisioning, transmissions and protocol enhancements includes defining multiple level beacons based on the attributes of beacon information fields/elements. A short beacon may be used in addition to a primary beacon in space-time block code (STBC) modes, non-STBC modes and in multiple bandwidth modes. The short beacons may also be used for Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) and to extend system coverage range. Beacon transmissions may use adaptive modulation and coding set/scheme (MCS).

Abstract: A method and apparatus may provide multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA) and/or single-user parallel channel access (SU-PCA) using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth, in the downlink (DL), uplink (UL), or combined DL and UL. SU-PCA and MU-PCA may support unequal modulation and coding schemes (MCS) and unequal transmit power. Medium access control (MAC) layer, Physical layer (PHY), and mixed and PHY layer methods and procedures may support UL, DL and combined UL and DL SU-PCA and MU-PCA using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth. MU-PCA and/or SU-PCA may also be supported by MAC and PHY layer designs and procedures for downlink, uplink and combined uplink and downlink using transmit/receive with asymmetrical bandwidth.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to adaptively and independently disable use of subchannels in transmission sent from a first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device receives transmission sent to it by the second wireless communication device. The transmissions occupy some or all of a plurality of subchannels within a frequency band that are available for use in the transmission. The transmissions received at the first wireless communication device are evaluated in each subchannel for an over-the-air wireless link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device. Based on the evaluation, zero or more of the plurality of subchannels are independently disabled in transmissions that are sent by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device.