Abstract: A host controller for a distributed wireless local area network (WLAN) includes: a communications interface connected to each of a set of wireless access points (APs); a memory storing (i) identifiers of each of the wireless access points, and (ii) a master identifier of the host controller; and a processor configured to: receive a notification, from a first one of the APs, that the first AP has completed an association with a client device; in response to receiving the notification: deploy association data, including an identifier of the client device, to each of the APs; initiate a handshake mechanism with the client device, via a selected one of the APs, to generate an encryption key; and provide the encryption key to each or the APs to enable data exchange between the client device and each of the APs.

Abstract: A host controller for a distributed wireless local area network (WLAN) includes: a communications interface connected to each of a set of wireless access points (APs); a memory storing (i) identifiers of each of the wireless access points, and (ii) a master identifier of the host controller; and a processor configured to: receive a notification, from a first one of the APs, that the first AP has completed an association with a client device; in response to receiving the notification: deploy association data, including an identifier of the client device, to each of the APs; initiate a handshake mechanism with the client device, via a selected one of the APs, to generate an encryption key; and provide the encryption key to each or the APs to enable data exchange between the client device and each of the APs.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) having an antenna controllable to transmit and receive using a set of AP sectors, includes: transmitting a plurality of beacon instances using each of the AP sectors, each beacon instance associated rotation schedule data defining a plurality of listening time slots corresponding to respective AP sectors; activating a rotating listening mode using the AP sectors in sequence according to the rotation schedule data; in response to detecting a sector sweep initiation message from a client device using an active one of the AP sectors, communicating with the client device to select an AP sector to use in establishing a link with the client device.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless station of establishing a connection with a second wireless station includes: generating a frame including a capabilities element having: a core capabilities field containing a predefined sequence of core subfields having respective predefined lengths; the core subfields containing respective first core values defining core capabilities of the first wireless station; and at least one extended capability field containing: an extended capability identifier subfield containing an identifier of one of a plurality of predefined extended capabilities; an extended capability length subfield containing an extended capability length value; and an extended capability payload subfield having a length equal to the extended capability length value; the payload subfield containing a first extended value defining an extended capability of the first wireless station; and responsive to generating the frame, transmitting the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing unsolicited block acknowledgements is provided. During a process, at a first wireless device, to associate with a basic service set that includes a second wireless communication device, the first wireless device transmits, via a controller and using a radio: an indication that the first wireless communication device supports block acknowledgements; and at least one common block acknowledgement parameter defining unsolicited block acknowledgement. Thereafter, the first wireless communication device exchanges data with the second wireless communication device according to the at least one common block acknowledgement parameter defining the unsolicited block acknowledgement.

Abstract: A host controller for a distributed wireless local area network (WLAN) includes: a communications interface connected to each of a set of wireless access points (APs); a memory storing (i) identifiers of each of the wireless access points, and (ii) a master identifier of the host controller; and a processor configured to: receive a notification, from a first one of the APs, that the first AP has completed an association with a client device; in response to receiving the notification: deploy association data, including an identifier of the client device, to each of the APs; initiate a handshake mechanism with the client device, via a selected one of the APs, to generate an encryption key; and provide the encryption key to each or the APs to enable data exchange between the client device and each of the APs.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless station of establishing a connection with a second wireless station includes: generating a frame including a capabilities element having: a core capabilities field containing a predefined sequence of core subfields having respective predefined lengths; the core subfields containing respective first core values defining core capabilities of the first wireless station; and at least one extended capability field containing: an extended capability identifier subfield containing an identifier of one of a plurality of predefined extended capabilities; an extended capability length subfield containing an extended capability length value; and an extended capability payload subfield having a length equal to the extended capability length value; the payload subfield containing a first extended value defining an extended capability of the first wireless station; and responsive to generating the frame, transmitting the frame.

Abstract: A method for spatial re-use in a first wireless communications assembly of a first service set, comprising: establishing data transfer communications within the first service set; detecting wireless interference generated by a second wireless communications assembly of a second service set distinct from the first service set; responsive to the detecting, sending a notice of interference indicator to the second wireless communications assembly; receiving a response to the notice of interference indicator from the second wireless communications assembly; based on the response, selecting an interference-reducing corrective action to perform within the first service set; and initiating the selected corrective action within the first service set.

Abstract: A wireless communications assembly and method for encoding and modulating data for transmission is provided. The method includes receiving primary data to be transmitted to a receiving station; selecting a data rate at which to transmit the primary data; selecting a mode associated with the data rate, the mode defining a modulation scheme and a target code rate; generating encoded data, including modifying an error correcting block format having a predefined code rate to generate the encoded data at the target code rate; and extracting at least a portion of the encoded data for modulation of a carrier signal and transmission to a receiving station.

Abstract: A method in a transmitter station includes: generating payload data for transmission to a receiver station via a plurality of antennae of the transmitter station; selecting a number of transmit streams for transmission of the payload data; selecting respective modulation schemes for each of the transmit streams; according to the modulation schemes and to an active one of (i) a single-encoder mode and (ii) a per-stream encoder mode, generating the number of coded, modulated transmit streams; wherein each coded, modulated transmit stream contains a portion of the payload data; and providing the coded, modulated transmit streams to respective ones of the antennae for transmission to the receiver station.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless station of establishing a connection with a second wireless station includes: generating a frame including a capabilities element having: a core capabilities field containing a predefined sequence of core subfields having respective predefined lengths; the core subfields containing respective first core values defining core capabilities of the first wireless station; and at least one extended capability field containing: an extended capability identifier subfield containing an identifier of one of a plurality of predefined extended capabilities; an extended capability length subfield containing an extended capability length value; and an extended capability payload subfield having a length equal to the extended capability length value; the payload subfield containing a first extended value defining an extended capability of the first wireless station; and responsive to generating the frame, transmitting the frame.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) having an antenna controllable to transmit and receive using a set of AP sectors, includes: transmitting a plurality of beacon instances using each of the AP sectors, each beacon instance associated rotation schedule data defining a plurality of listening time slots corresponding to respective AP sectors; activating a rotating listening mode using the AP sectors in sequence according to the rotation schedule data; in response to detecting a sector sweep initiation message from a client device using an active one of the AP sectors, communicating with the client device to select an AP sector to use in establishing a link with the client device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beamforming training using frames is provided. A first wireless device transmits, to a second wireless communication device, values representing one or more of transmit capabilities and receive capabilities of the first wireless communication device when exchanging beamforming data with the second wireless communication device. The values may be negotiated between the first and second wireless communication devices. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device perform beamforming training based on the values.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications assembly of a first station having a plurality of antennas and configured to perform a beamforming procedure with a second station, the method comprising: controlling the plurality of antennas to simultaneously transmit, using a first sector of each of the plurality of antennas, a respective first beam including first frame data containing a first beam set identifier element identifying each of the plurality of antennas and each of the first sectors; subsequently controlling the plurality of antennas to simultaneously transmit, using a second sector of each of the plurality of antennas, a respective second beam including second frame data containing a second beam set identifier element identifying each of the plurality of antennas and each of the second sectors; and receiving, from the second station, first feedback data including one of the first beam set identifier element and the second beam set identifier element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beamforming training using frames is provided. A first wireless device transmits, to a second wireless communication device, values representing one or more of transmit capabilities and receive capabilities of the first wireless communication device when exchanging beamforming data with the second wireless communication device. The values may be negotiated between the first and second wireless communication devices. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device perform beamforming training based on the values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beamforming training using frames is provided. A device generates a frame comprising header data and beamforming data. The beamforming data is organized into units of beamforming training (TRN) fields. The header data comprises numbers indicating: a first type of TRN fields in each of the units of the beamforming data, to be transmitted using same antenna settings used for the header data; a second type of TRN fields in each of the units to be transmitted using different antenna settings than used for the header data; and how the first type of TRN fields are organized into respective groups of the second type of TRN fields in each of the units that are to be consecutively transmitted using same respective antenna settings, the respective antenna settings changing with each successive group of the third number of the second type of TRN fields.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beamforming training in basic service set discovery is provided. Beacon data is transmitted from a first wireless communication device, the beacon data comprising: beacon data parameters for operation of a basic service set: and beamforming data that includes receive beamforming training fields. Beamforming occurs with a second wireless communication device that receives beacon data.

Abstract: A method in a transmitter station includes: generating payload data for transmission to a receiver station via a plurality of antennae of the transmitter station; selecting a number of transmit streams for transmission of the payload data; selecting respective modulation schemes for each of the transmit streams; according to the modulation schemes and to an active one of (i) a single-encoder mode and (ii) a per-stream encoder mode, generating the number of coded, modulated transmit streams; wherein each coded, modulated transmit stream contains a portion of the payload data; and providing the coded, modulated transmit streams to respective ones of the antennae for transmission to the receiver station.

Abstract: A wireless communication assembly stores configuration parameter sets for predefined spectral masks, including: a single channel mask for a base channel bandwidth, and defining target power levels for each of a base in-band bandwidth, base transition bandwidths, and a base floor bandwidth; and a bonded channel mask for a multiple of the base channel bandwidth, and defining target power levels for each of a bonded in-band bandwidth equivalent to the sum of the base in-band bandwidth and the base channel bandwidth, and bonded transition and floor bandwidths that are multiples of the base transition and floor bandwidths. A radio controller selects predefined channels each having the base channel bandwidth, for transmitting data to a recipient station; retrieves selected one of the configuration parameter sets based on the number of selected channels; and applies the selected configuration parameter set to data for transmission to the recipient station.

Abstract: A wireless communications assembly and method for encoding and modulating data for transmission is provided. The method includes receiving primary data to be transmitted to a receiving station; selecting a data rate at which to transmit the primary data; selecting a mode associated with the data rate, the mode defining a modulation scheme and a target code rate; generating encoded data, including modifying an error correcting block format having a predefined code rate to generate the encoded data at the target code rate; and extracting at least a portion of the encoded data for modulation of a carrier signal and transmission to a receiving station.