Abstract: Presently disclosed are systems and methods for beamforming training in WLANs. In various embodiments, there are unified MIMO beamforming training procedure, which includes a training period in which an initiator transmits multiple unified training frames for performing a transmit-beamforming training of the initiator and a receive-beamforming training of one or more responders; a feedback period in which each responder replies with a beamforming-feedback response; and an acknowledgement period during which the initiator transmits respective acknowledgement frames to the one or more responders from which responses were received. Rules for restricted random access in various slots of the feedback period may be implemented, to address response contention between multiple qualifying responders.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems to enable a channel estimation of more than one channel for Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communications in a wireless network is provided. The method includes determining a first set of complex numbers comprising first channel estimation signal associated with a first channel, determining a second set of complex numbers comprising second channel estimation signal associated with a second channel, and transmitting the first set of complex numbers and the second set of complex numbers via a physical layer (PHY) frame, wherein the second set of complex numbers are complex conjugates of the first set of complex numbers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may be used for sounding for multi-user (MU) scheduling and for signaling and procedures for sub-channel selection. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive information from an access point (AP) indicating a plurality of sub-channels to use for uplink data transmission as part of uplink MU wireless communications using a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) wireless medium. The WTRU may transmit, using a plurality of sub-channels, a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) including a preamble portion and a data portion, and, using at least a subset of the plurality of sub-channels, sounding signals to the AP for scheduling MU communications. The AP may receive sounding information from more WTRUs that the plurality of WTRUS associated with the scheduling information for the uplink data transmission during a time interval, in addition to receiving uplink data from the plurality of WTRUs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described herein for adapting clear channel assessment (CCA) thresholds with or without Transmit Power Control (TPC) are disclosed. An IEEE 802.11 station (STA) may dynamically calculate a STA specific transmit power control (TPC) value and a STA specific clear channel assessment (CCA) value based on a target TPC parameter and a target CCA parameter. The target TPC parameter and the target CCA parameter may be received from an IEEE 802.11 cluster head configured to control TPC and CCA for a plurality of STAs associated with the BSS. The target TPC parameter and the target CCA parameter also may be related. The STA may then determine whether a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) wireless medium of a wireless local area network (WLAN) basic service set (BSS) is occupied or idle based on the STA specific CCA value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for protection of multi-user (MU) transmission are described herein. An apparatus includes a receiver, a transmitter and a processor. The receiver and the processor detect a trigger frame for an uplink (UL) multi-user (MU) transmission. The processor and the transmitter generate and send a frame in response to the trigger frame and transmit channel availability information for a plurality of channels in response to the trigger frame. The receiver and the processor detect data in a resource unit (RU) of a downlink (DL) MU physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) on one of the plurality of channels. The one of the plurality of channels is based on the transmitted channel availability information.

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: Methods and systems for operation in a WLAN are provided. Methods and systems for a transmit power control (TPC) scheme are disclosed. In an embodiment, an access point (AP) may send a trigger frame to one or more stations (STAs) for synchronizing and scheduling uplink (UL) multi-user (MU) transmissions. The trigger frame may contain an open-loop power control index 1 and a power adjustment index 2. The one or more STAs may estimate pathloss using an indicated AP transmit power and received power to set a baseline transmit power. The one or more STAs may adjust their transmit power in the UL transmission period to be the indicated target receive power at the AP.

Abstract: A method performed by an AP may comprise transmitting a MU-HE-PPDU, on a first 20 MHz channel and a second 20 MHz channel, to a plurality of STAs. The MU-HE-PPDU may comprise an HE-SIG-A portion carried on the first 20 MHz channel and the second 20 MHz channel. The MU-HE-PPDU may comprise a first HE-SIG-B portion carried on the first 20 MHz channel and a second HE-SIG-B portion carried on the second 20 MHz channel.

Abstract: An AP/PCP may perform user selection/pairing/grouping based on a measurement of an analog transmission (e.g., signal to noise ratio (SNR) or signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR)). The SNRs may be used, for example by the station, to determine best beams and/or beam pairs and/or worst beams and/or beam pairs. A station may feed back the best few beams and/or beam pairs for a Tx and Rx virtual antenna pair. A station may feed back the worst few beams for the Tx and Rx virtual antenna pair. The AP/PCP may receive the indication(s) and/or use the indication(s) to group the stations.

Abstract: Device, systems, and/or techniques for using sub-channel signaling information between an access point and a first station are disclosed. An uplink trigger sent from the access point to the first station may be received. A map may be transmitted from the first station indicating at least one sub-channel that is available for spatial sharing by a second station. The first station may receive an acknowledgement from the access point that data was transmitted from the second station on the at least one sub-channel and/or received by the at least one access point. An OFDMA transmission having a sub-channel/sub-band available for transmitting data may be determined. An energy in the sub-channel/sub-band may be measured and/or compared to a dynamic and/or static threshold. Whether a sub-channel/sub-band is free or busy may be determined for example based on if the measured energy is, or is not, greater than the threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for range extension, basic service set (BSS) color labeling, and multi-user (MU) fragmentation and control in WLANs. A range extension notification/enablement scheme, a clear channel assessment (CCA), a headroom indication, and/or power scaling may be provided for a range extension mode. BSS color may be provided for multiple-BSSs under an access point (AP). Uplink (UL) transmission may be provided with different fragmentation capabilities. A high-efficiency (HE) trigger-based UL NDP physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) frame may be provided. A station (STA) may receive a trigger frame comprising a null data packet (NDP) indication and a trigger type. The STA may determine that the STA is an intended recipient of the trigger frame. The STA may prepare an NDP PPDU for a control frame and/or a management frame based on the trigger type.

Abstract: Methods and systems for negotiating an ACK policy between a STA and an AP operating in a LAN are provided. Transmission of a modified ULR frame from a STA to an AP is provided. The ULR frame may include information related to a traffic stream for which the STA is requesting one or more transmission opportunities. The related information may include a determined priority associated with the traffic stream and a requested ACK type. The transmission opportunity may be one or more of a single user transmission opportunity, part of a multi-user transmission opportunity, or a peer-to-peer transmission opportunity.

Abstract: Presently disclosed are systems and methods for beamforming training in WLANs. In various embodiments, there are unified MIMO beamforming training procedure, which includes a training period in which an initiator transmits multiple unified training frames for performing a transmit-beamforming training of the initiator and a receive-beamforming training of one or more responders; a feedback period in which each responder replies with a beamforming-feedback response; and an acknowledgement period during which the initiator transmits respective acknowledgement frames to the one or more responders from which responses were received. Rules for restricted random access in various slots of the feedback period may be implemented, to address response contention between multiple qualifying responders.

Abstract: A method performed by a STA may comprise transmitting a first negotiation message to an AP and receiving a second negotiation message from the AP. The first negotiation message and the second negotiation message may negotiate a block acknowledgement agreement between the STA and the AP. The method may further comprise receiving a data unit, from the AP, the data unit having a duration field indicating a duration of a block-ACK frame. The duration of the block-ACK frame may be determined based on the negotiated block ACK agreement. A block-ACK frame may be transmitted within the duration indicated by the duration field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multidimensional beam refinement procedures and signaling for millimeter wave WLANs. In some embodiments, there are multi-dimensional enhanced beam refinement protocol MAC and PHY frame designs that extend the MAC packet and the PPDU format with or without backwards compatibility. The multiple dimensions may be supported jointly or separately. In other embodiments, the increased data signaled in the eBRP frame designs may be more efficiently signaled with reduced BRP frame sizes, such as through a training type dependent BRP minimum duration selection procedure or use of null data packet BRP frames. In further embodiments, the maximum duration of the interframe spacing between BPR packets may be varied to improve the efficiency of BRP operation.

Abstract: Multiple channel transmission in mmW Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems may be provided. Multi-channel aggregation and channel bonding may include, for example, multi-channel aggregation for a single transmitter/receiver pair or multi-channel aggregation and bonding for multiple transmitter/receiver pairs with frequency and space based multiple access. Multi-channel beamforming may include, for example, one analog beam across two channels and analog circuits on each channel or a single analog circuit on both channels, one analog beam across two channels and separate digital precoding schemes on each channel, one analog beam across a primary channel and separate digital precoding schemes on each channel or two analog beams on two channels and separate digital precoding on each channel. Preamble signaling may be provided.

Abstract: Receiver assisted channel access may be used during a channel occupancy time (COT). A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that is a member of a first group may receive a preamble in a first time slot set, and determine a group associated with the first time slot. On a condition that the group associated with the first time slot set is the first group, the WTRU may monitor the channel for a request-to-send (RTS) signal in the first slot set. On a condition that the RTS signal is received, the WTRU may perform listen-before-talk (LBT) on the channel. On a condition that the LBT is successful, the WTRU may transmit a clear-to-send (CTS) on the channel and access the channel in the first time slot. On a condition that the LBT is unsuccessful, the WTRU may not access the channel in the first time slot set.

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 includes receiving a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) list configuration including entries, each including a resource allocation that includes a slot offset value. L1 signaling is received indicating a minimum slot offset value. Downlink control information (DCI) is decoded on a physical downlink control channel in a slot. An index is obtained from the decoded DCI, identifying an entry in the TDRA list. A particular slot offset value identified by the index is retrieved from the TDRA list and compared with the minimum slot offset value. If the particular slot offset value is less than the minimum slot offset value, the entry is invalid. If the particular slot offset value is greater than or equal to the minimum slot offset value, a physical downlink shared channel is received.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described herein for multiple access schemes for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with full-duplex radios. For example, an access point (AP), in response to receiving a request to send (RTS) from a first station (STA), may transmit a full-duplex clear to send (FD CTS) to the first STA and a full-duplex request to send (FD RTS) to a second STA. In response to transmitting the FD RTS to the second STA, the AP may receive a clear to send (CTS) from the second STA. The AP may transmit, to both the first STA and the second STA, a FD trigger frame that includes scheduling information to enables FD communication with the first STA for uplink (UL) data and the second STA for downlink (DL) data at a same time. The scheduling information may include timing information and channel information for the FD communication.