Abstract: Switching operations are described that provide greater reliability for multilink operations between an access point multilink device (AP MLD) and a non-AP MLD in a wireless communications network. The AP MLD announces that the AP MLD switches one of the multilinks necessary for the multilink operation. The non-AP MLD determines whether an AP operating on a switching link has resumed basic service set (BSS) operation on a target channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for a MAP wireless network that includes a collaborative channel sounding measurement phase to determine channel state information between devices (e.g., the channel state between an STA and a collaborative AP) for efficient configuration of the MAP wireless network and to improve the performance of the MAP wireless networks. The wireless AP and wireless STAs associated with the collaborative APs can simultaneously transmit by applying collaborative beamforming where the interferences between channels nullify each other (e.g., nulling), and the beamforming is performed based on a sounding phase performed by the collaborative APs.

Abstract: A first multi-link device (MLD) determines that there is an overlap between reception of one or more frames from a second MLD on a first link of a plurality of enhanced multi-link single-radio (EMLSR) links and a frame exchange with the second MLD on a second link of the plurality of EMLSR links in an event that the frame exchange is started upon either: (i) expiration of a backoff timer regarding the second link or (ii) receiving a soliciting frame regarding the second link. In response to the determining, the first MLD refrains from either: (i) initiating the frame exchange on the second link upon the expiration of the backoff timer (e.g., by deferring the frame exchange to a later time) responsive to the expiration of the backoff timer regarding the second link or (ii) transmitting a solicited frame on the second link responsive to receiving the soliciting frame.

Abstract: System and method of using an AP to individually controlling RTS/CTS duration thresholds for multiple STAs in a WLAN. In response to a STA's association request, the AP determines a duration threshold specific to the STA and encloses this information in an association request response for transmission to the STA. By using a broadcast frame, the AP may instruct multiple STAs to uniformly update their stored duration thresholds. For example, if the duration threshold field in the beacon frame is set to 0, the multiple STAs preserve their current duration thresholds; if the field is set to a non-zero value less than 1023, the multiple STAs all update their duration thresholds to the non-zero value; if this field is set to 1023, the multiple STAs disable the RTS/CTS transmissions. Based on a current threshold and pertinent policies, an STA can decide whether to initiate an RTS/CTS transmission sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and devices for transmitting or receiving beacon frames and probe response frames that include MAC addresses of a multi-link device (MLD) operating on multiple links in a wireless network. For example, the beacon frames and probe response frames can include an MLD MAC address that uniquely identifies an AP MLD in a wireless network, and can optionally include one or more WM MAC addresses of STAs of the AP MLD. The MAC addresses can be used to by wireless devices (e.g., STA MLDs) to connect to and associate with the AP MLD, and can be used to generate a password element used during authentication between wireless devices.

Abstract: An encryption mechanism used on cooperative multi-band wireless STA architecture that enables full duplex operations. In encrypting a frame, an AAD can be constructed by using a selected MAC address, which may not be associated with a band to be used for transmitting the frame in an upcoming TXOP. An STA that supports simultaneous transmission in a multi-band operation uses the same MAC address to encrypt the frames to be transmitted on different bands. An AAD is constructed by using a same MAC address corresponding to one of the transceivers. A transmit STA may specify band information used for encryption in the MAC header, which serves to signal the receive STA to decrypt the frame by using the proper information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are drawn to a computer-implemented process for automatically synchronizing TXOPs for a multi-link device (MLD) to improve wireless network performance and prevent IDC. The novel process can be performed by a multi-link device performing a multi-link operation, and the multi-link device can act as a wireless access point or a wireless station. Independent EDCA channel access can be performed at the multi-link device on a first wireless link and a second wireless link, and a back-off counter for a first wireless STA and a back-off counter for a second wireless STA are set according to the independent EDCA channel access. A TXOP is synchronously obtained on the first wireless link and the second wireless link responsive to the back-off counters expiring, and a multi-link operation is performed at the MLD using the first wireless link and the second wireless link during the TXOP.

Abstract: A first station (STA) and a second STA perform bandwidth negotiation with a bandwidth extension indication. Then the first STA and the second STA communicate wirelessly according to the bandwidth negotiation.

Abstract: A first access point (AP) receives a second spatial reuse parameter (SRP) related to a second AP from the second AP. The first AP transmits the second SRP to at least a first communication device associated with the first apparatus. The first AP then receives a uplink (UL) transmission from the first communication device with a transmit power of the UL transmission controlled based on the second SRP.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are drawn to systems, apparatus and methods that provide TSF information for a non-primary link to a non-AP STA operating on a primary link to avoid IDC interference and improve wireless throughput and efficiency. The TSF information includes a TSF offset value used to determining the timing of subsequent transmissions over different wireless links. The TSF offset value can be carried in a beacon frame, probe response frame, association frame, through a Reduced Neighbor Report element or a multi-link element, for example. Beacon frames can include timestamp and TSF offset information transmitted periodically. Some wireless links may share a TSF clock or have fixed TSF offsets.

Abstract: An uplink (UL) latency indication method includes: collecting, by an access point (AP), latency information associated with communications with at least one non-AP station (STA), without asking latency measurement on said at least one non-AP STA; and performing statistical analysis on the latency information to generate at least one UL latency indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus implemented in a master access point (AP) selects at least one basic service set (BSS) from one or more neighbor BSSs to form a spatial reuse group (SRG). The apparatus then performs coordinated spatial reuse (CSR) in the SRG with a set of overlapping basic service set (OBSS) power detection (PD) parameters.

Abstract: A plurality of different medium access control (MAC) addresses are assigned to a plurality of virtual access point (AP) multi-link devices (MLDs) that are implemented within a physical AP MLD such that each of the plurality of virtual AP MLDs is assigned a respective MAC address of the plurality of different MAC addresses. Wireless communications are then established with one or more stations (STAs) over a plurality of links.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention transmit fragmented frames using a sequence control field in a MAC header that includes an extended 15-bit sequence number for tracking the order of frames, and a 1-bit PF field that indicates the position of a fragmented frame in conjunction with a 1-bit MF field carried in a frame control subfield of the MAC header. The fragmented frames can be received by a wireless device and defragmented according to the MF field, the PF field, and the sequence control number. The frames can be discarded if any are not received successfully.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for multi-AP beamforming (e.g., nulling) and spatial reuse to mitigate interference and improve the performance of MAP wireless networks. According to one embodiment, multiple APs agree to collaborate in multi-AP beamforming, transmissions of received PDDUs are measured to determine interference information, the APS generate interference maps, and the APs perform joint and Multi-AP beamforming in a first and second BSS to avoid/mitigate interference of the MAP wireless network. An RTS and CTS frame exchange sequence can be performed prior to Multi-AP beamforming between BSSs using a flag/indicator in the RTS frame to indicate coordinated transmission, or an UL trigger frame can be used to indicate a coordinated UL transmission.

Abstract: A physical protocol data unit (PPDU) transmission method includes: setting parameters of each of a plurality of links for enabling the plurality of links to have different capacity for PPDU transmission, wherein parameters of one link are different from parameters of another link, and highest capacity supported by the one link is higher than highest capacity supported by the another link; aligning an ending time instant of transmission of a first PPDU transmitted via the one link with an ending time instant of transmission of a second PPDU transmitted via the another link through setting a content that is carried by the first PPDU transmitted via the one link; and transmitting PPDUs via the plurality of links, wherein one PPDU is transmitted via each of the plurality of links, and the PPDUs include the first PPDU and the second PPDU.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention prevent interference caused by the simultaneous transmission and reception of data in a constrained multi-link operation of a wireless network. According to one embodiment, a frame from a first affiliated AP of a multi-band wireless AP is transmitted for receipt by an STA, and a second affiliated wireless AP of the multi-band wireless AP is scheduled to transmit a trigger frame to the wireless STA over a second wireless link. Accordingly, the trigger frame is transmitted from the second affiliated wireless AP to the wireless STA over the second wireless link, and the response frame solicited by the frame is scheduled for transmission after the predetermined value has expired following an end of the PPDUs containing the trigger frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for a MAP wireless network that includes a collaborative channel sounding measurement phase to determine channel state information between devices (e.g., the channel state between an STA and a collaborative AP) for efficient configuration of the MAP wireless network and to improve the performance of the MAP wireless networks. The wireless AP and wireless STAs associated with the collaborative APs can simultaneously transmit by applying collaborative beamforming where the interferences between channels nullify each other (e.g., nulling), and the beamforming is performed based on a sounding phase performed by the collaborative APs. The sounding protocol can include a collaborative sounding measurement phase and a collaborative sounding feedback report phase, using Null Data Packets (NDPs), for example, as described herein according to embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A first access point (AP), which is affiliated with a AP multi-link device (MLD) operating on a non-simultaneous-transmission-and-reception (NSTR) link pair comprising a primary link and a non-primary link, generates a beacon frame or probe response frame. The first AP then transmits the beacon frame or probe response frame on a link that is not the non-primary link to indicate that a second AP affiliated with the NSTR AP MLD and operating on the non-primary link is unavailable, quiet or disabled.

Abstract: A station (STA) affiliated with a non-simultaneous-transmission-and-reception (NSTR) multi-link device (MLD) obtains a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on a first link of an NSTR link pair as a TXOP initiator while a medium synchronization delay timer of the STA is non-zero. STA determines that an intended TXOP responder has lost medium synchronization. The STA then transmits a control frame as an initial frame in the TXOP to the intended TXOP responder on the first link responsive to the determining.