Abstract: A method for acknowledging a first medium access control (MAC) service data unit (MSDU) is described. A first aggregate MAC protocol data unit (A-MPDU) of a first orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) data unit is received at a first communication device from a second communication device. The first A-MPDU includes a first fragment of a plurality of fragments of the first MSDU. A second A-MPDU of a second OFDMA data unit is received at the first communication device from the second communication device. The second A-MPDU includes a second fragment of the plurality of fragments and the second fragment is an end fragment of the plurality of fragments. A fragment acknowledgment data unit is generated by the first communication device to acknowledge receipt of each of the plurality of fragments of the first MSDU. The fragment acknowledgment data unit is caused to be transmitted to the second communication device.

Abstract: A first communication device generates respective media access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) that include respective data for a respective second communication devices, and determines respective resource units (RUs) via which at least some of the second communication devices are to transmit as part of an uplink (UL) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) physical layer (PHY) transmission to respectively acknowledge receipt of the respective MPDUs. The first communication device generates respective control frames that are configured to prompt the at least some of the second communication devices to transmit the UL OFDMA PHY transmission, and that include indicators of the RUs via which the at least some of the second communication devices are to transmit as part of the UL OFDMA PHY transmission. The first communication device generates and transmits a single multi user (MU) PHY data unit that includes i) the MPDUs, and ii) the control frames.

Abstract: An access point (AP) device of a wireless communication network determines that an unassociated client station requests to participate in a ranging measurement procedure with the AP device, and determines a preliminary network ID for uses by the unassociated client station during a ranging measurement session and while the unassociated client station remains unassociated with the wireless communication network. The AP device transmits a packet having the preliminary network ID, and after transmitting the packet having the preliminary network ID, participates in a multi-user (MU) null data packet (NDP) ranging measurement session with a plurality of client stations that includes the unassociated client station.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus that includes a transceiver circuit and a processing circuit. The transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The processing circuit is configured to generate a request frame using an extended control frame format to indicate an enhanced fine timing measurement (EFTM) based range measurement to a second apparatus, cause the transceiver circuit to transmit, when a transmission opportunity (TXOP) is granted to the apparatus, wireless signals carrying the request frame to start the EFTM based range measurement that exchanges null data packets with the second apparatus, and determine a round trip time based on departure and arrival timing information of the null data packets.

Abstract: A client station receives from an access point (AP) a downlink packet that includes a trigger frame that is configured to prompt the client station to transmit an uplink packet to the AP. The trigger frame includes an indication of whether the client station is required to perform a channel sensing procedure to determine if one or more subchannels are not idle prior to transmitting the uplink packet. In response to the trigger frame indicating that the client station is required to perform the channel sensing procedure: the client station does not transmit the uplink packet in response to determining that the one or more subchannels are not idle. In response to the trigger frame indicating that the client station is not required to perform the channel sensing procedure, the client station transmits the uplink packet without measuring the one or more energy levels in the one or more subchannels.

Abstract: A first communication device transmits a trigger frame transmission to multiple second communication devices to prompt the multiple second communication devices to simultaneously transmit in multiple communication sub-channels. The first communication device receives one or more transmissions from one or more of the second communication devices in less than all of the communication sub-channels. The first communication device generates acknowledgment information for the one or more transmissions from the one or more of the second communication devices, and transmits the acknowledgment information via all of communication sub-channels.

Abstract: A method for operation of a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel, having a plurality of component channels, between the first communication device and a second communication device is described. A first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) and a second PPDU, distinct from the first PPDU, are generated. The first PPDU and second PPDU are transmitted simultaneously to the second communication device over the WLAN communication channel, including: transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment that occupies a first frequency bandwidth, and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel within a second RF channel segment that occupies a second frequency bandwidth that does not overlap the first frequency bandwidth segment, and is separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

Abstract: Multiple trigger frames are generated at a first communication device to trigger an uplink orthogonal frequency multiple access (OFDMA) transmission by multiple second communication devices. The multiple trigger frames include a broadcast trigger frame that includes information to indicate transmission parameters for a first subset of the second communication devices, and one or more unicast trigger frames, each of the one or more unicast trigger frame including information to indicate transmission parameters for a particular second communication device in a second subset of the second communication devices. The broadcast trigger frame is transmitted, in a first frequency portion of a downlink OFDMA transmission, to the first subset of the second communication devices, and respective unicast trigger frames are transmitted, in respective second frequency portions of the downlink OFDMA transmission, to the second subset of the second communication devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a transceiver and a processing circuit. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The processing circuit is configured to detect an error of a previous scheduled transmission of data units from the apparatus to another apparatus. The other apparatus provides scheduled resources for transmission between the two apparatuses. Further, the processing circuit is configured to determine resources that are scheduled by the other apparatus for the apparatus to perform retransmission, and provide one or more of the data units in the previous scheduled transmission to the transceiver for retransmission using the scheduled resources.

Abstract: A communication device determines, in connection with a prior uplink multi-user (UL MU) communication in which the communication device participated, whether the communication device is to use one or more first channel access parameters, or one or more second channel access parameters for accessing a communication medium for a single user (SU) transmission by the communication device, where using the one or more first channel access parameters is associated with a greater probability of obtaining access to the communication medium as compared to using the one or more second channel access parameters. Depending on the determination made, the communication device uses the one or more first channel access parameters, or the one or more second channel access parameters to attempt to access the communication medium. In response to accessing the communication medium, the communication device transmits the SU transmission via the communication medium.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals over a wireless channel in accordance with both a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol being backward-compatible with the first communication protocol. The transceiver is configured to provide capabilities that are supported by the second communication protocol but are not supported by the first communication protocol. A communication controller is configured to generate data frames for transmission by the transceiver. The date frames include frame headers that are compatible with the first communication protocol while including, in a specified field of the frame headers, a predefined value indicating that the apparatus is capable of communicating in accordance with the second communication protocol.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a wireless communication medium is clear is carried out on a client device, and includes: associating with a first virtual access point (AP) of a plurality of virtual APs implemented by a physical AP; receiving, from a physical AP, a message identifying the basic service set (BSS) color of each of the plurality of virtual APs implemented by on the physical AP; detecting a packet data unit; measuring the energy of the packet data unit; decoding a BSS color from the packet data unit; if the decoded BSS color is the same as a BSS color in the message from the physical AP, then setting an energy threshold to a first level; if the decoded BSS color is not the same as any BSS color in the message from the physical AP, then setting an energy threshold to a second level, wherein the second level is higher than the first level; and transmitting or refraining from transmitting a packet data unit based on a comparison of the measured energy and the energy threshold.

Abstract: A first communication device in a first wireless network determines a transmit power for transmitting a first packet during a spatial reuse opportunity corresponding to a transmission in a second wireless network. Determining the transmit power includes using a spatial reuse parameter, indicative of an acceptable interference level in the second wireless network, included in a second packet transmitted by a second communication device in the second wireless network. The first communication device generates the first packet to include information to indicate to a third communication device, that is an intended receiver of the first packet, to not transmit an acknowledgment of the first packet according to a normal acknowledgment procedure during the spatial reuse opportunity.

Abstract: A first communication device receives an aggregate medium access control data unit (MAC) protocol data unit (A-MPDU) that aggregates multiple MAC protocol data units from a second communication device. The first communication device generates an acknowledgment data unit that includes a length indication that indicates a length of an acknowledgement field and the acknowledgment field of the indicated length. The length of the acknowledgement field is selected from a subset of predetermined lengths, among a set predetermined lengths, that includes multiple predetermined lengths that do not exceed a maximum number of MAC protocol data units that can be included in the A-MPDU. The maximum number of MAC protocol data units is limited by a buffer size negotiated in an acknowledgement setup procedure previously conducted between the first communication device and the second communication device. The first communication device transmits the acknowledgment data unit to the second communication device.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to broadcast and multicast in a wireless communication system. In some implementations, an announcement frame indicating a broadcast or multicast service period to multiple second wireless devices is transmitted by a first wireless device. The announcement frame indicates (i) an end time of the broadcast or multicast service period and (ii) an order of a sequence of frames to be directed to the multiple second wireless devices. Each of the sequence of frames is transmitted at the first wireless device using a directional antenna pattern to a respective one of the multiple second wireless devices, according to the order of the sequence of frames indicated in the announcement frame. An acknowledgement frame in response to the each of the sequence of frames is received at the first wireless device from the respective one of the multiple second wireless devices.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method for fragmenting and reassembling data frames on a medium access control (MAC) layer in a wireless local area network. A datagram is received from an application running on a first network device, for transmission over a wireless communication link in the wireless local area network. A negotiation request is initiated with a second network device for determining whether both the first network device and the second network device have enhanced directional multi-gigabit capability (EDMG) for data segmentation and reassembly. When both devices have EDMG capability and the size of the datagram exceeds the maximum size defined by the wireless local area network transmission protocol, the datagram is segmented into a plurality of transmission data units on the MAC layer.

Abstract: In a method for communicating in a wireless communication network a trigger frame is generated to trigger simultaneous uplink transmissions by multiple communication devices. The trigger frame includes a padding portion having a length determined based on respective time duration requirements of the multiple communication devices, the respective time duration requirements for preparing uplink transmission by the corresponding second communication devices. The trigger frame is transmitted to the multiple communication devices. The simultaneous uplink transmissions, triggered by the trigger frame, are received from the multiple communication devices.

Abstract: A first communication device generates a beamforming training initiator packet for transmission in the wireless communication network, the beamforming training initiator packet including i) information indicating a start of a beamforming training session, and ii) respective identifiers of multiple second communication devices that are to process beamforming training packets transmitted by the first communication device during the beamforming training session. The first communication device transmits the beamforming training initiator packet, and after transmitting the beamforming training initiator packet, transmits a plurality of beamforming training packets during the beamforming training session.

Abstract: A first communication device generates and transmits to a second communication device: first and second information elements that respectively indicate capabilities regarding physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) conforming to a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol. The first communication device generates and transmits a MAC data unit that includes a number corresponding to a maximum number spatial streams supported by the first communication device. The number in the MAC data unit, and one or more of i) the first information element, ii) the second information element, and iii) other information in the MAC data unit, indicate first and second maximum numbers of spatial streams supported by the first communication device with respect to PPDUs conforming to the first communication protocol, and PPDUs conforming to the second communication protocol, respectively.

Abstract: A first wireless device determines, while a first and second wireless transceiver are powered off, start of a service period. The first wireless transceiver is turned on in response to the determination to enable the first wireless device to establish communication via a LP wireless channel while the second wireless transceiver is off. The first wireless device receives a request frame from a second wireless device and a time of a timing function is updated based on the request frame.