Abstract: A method for changing a first basic service set (BSS) color identifier for a first communication device identifiable by the first BSS color identifier and a first basic service set identifier that is longer than the first BSS color identifier is described. An indication that the first BSS color identifier and a second BSS color identifier for a second communication device have a same first value is received by the first communication device. Respective service coverage areas of the first and second communication devices at least partially overlap. A second value of the first BSS color identifier is determined by the first communication device in response to the indication. A notification frame that indicates the second value and a start time are generated by the first communication device. The first BSS color identifier is changed by the first communication device to the second value based on the start time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for performing contention based uplink (UL) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). The method may include receiving, from an access point using a channel, a first signal including an indication of a first time and a plurality of sub-channels of the channel. The method may include modifying a counter value in response to determining that the first time has been reached. The method may include selecting a sub-channel of the plurality of sub-channels in response to determining the counter value is equal to a threshold value. The method may include transmitting a second signal to the access point using the sub-channel. The methods and systems disclosed herein may be used by stations to associate with the access point.

Abstract: A method for use in a communication network is described. A plurality of data frames, transmitted simultaneously from respective ones of a plurality of second communication devices, are received at a first communication device via a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication channel. A common carrier frequency offset (CFO) that is common to the data frames is estimated based on a legacy portion of a physical layer (PHY) preamble of the data frames. Each data frame is compensated based on the common CFO. Respective device-specific CFOs are estimated for channel estimation of the MIMO communication channel based on pilot tones of respective non-legacy training field portions of the data frames. The pilot tones have a non-overlapping allocation to the plurality of second communication devices and each device-specific CFO is specific to the corresponding second communication device. The respective non-legacy training field portions are compensated based on the corresponding device-specific CFO.

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 transmits a first communication frame that includes scheduling information corresponding to a time period in which an uplink multi-user transmission is to occur. The scheduling information indicates a start time of the time period. The first communication frame includes an indication of a group of two or more second communication devices that are to transmit simultaneously during the time period as part of the uplink multi-user transmission. The first communication device transmits a second communication frame during the time period. The second communication frame is configured to trigger at least some second communication device in the group of two or more second communication devices to transmit simultaneously as part of the uplink multi-user transmission. The first communication device receives the uplink multi-user transmission during the time period, the uplink multi-user transmission being responsive to the second communication frame.

Abstract: A IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system of an access point (AP) and one or more stations (STAs) reduces power consumption and increases battery life of power efficient low power STAs by decreasing the amount of time that a power efficient low power STA remains in an awake state. After indicating power efficient low power operation during association with an AP supporting such operation, the power efficient low power STA may enter the doze state from the time that the power efficient low power STA sends a PS-Poll until the power efficient low power STA receives the buffered DATA frame from the AP. While implementing the power efficient PS-Poll method, the AP can send the buffered DATA frame to the STA SIFS after the AP sends an ACK to the received PS-Poll from the STA.

Abstract: A first communication i) selects one or more respective preliminary identifiers (IDs) for one or more second communication devices, or ii) receives one or more respective preliminary IDs from one or more second communication devices, the one or more respective preliminary IDs having been respectively selected by the one or more second communication devices. The first communication device generates a trigger frame, the trigger frame indicating one or more first frequency resource and/or spatial stream allocations to one or more second communication devices using the one or more respective preliminary IDs. The first communication device transmits the trigger frame to initiate at least an uplink (UL) MU transmission by multiple second communication devices for a ranging procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with obtaining schedule information to support snoop ranging are described. According to one embodiment, a method is performed by a station device on a computer network and includes establishing a network association with a network device of the computer network. The method also includes receiving schedule information from the network device without having to previously transmit to the network device to initiate acquisition of the schedule information. The schedule information is negotiated between other network devices communicating in the computer network, or between the network device and at least one of the other network devices. The schedule information is communicated to the network device and specifies timing associated with a ranging exchange between the other network devices, or between the network device and at least one of the other network devices, and may be used by the station device for snooping.

Abstract: A method for simultaneous communication with multiple communication devices in a wireless local area network is described. Respective sub-channels of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication channel are allocated to two or more second communication devices for simultaneous OFDM transmission to the two or more second communication devices, including allocating first and second sub-channels to first and second ones of the two or more second communication devices, respectively. Respective downlink OFDM data units are generated using the corresponding allocated sub-channels. The downlink OFDM data units are transmitted using the corresponding allocated sub-channels. At least first and second uplink OFDM data units transmitted by the respective second communication device in response to the corresponding downlink OFDM data unit are received.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus having a processing circuit and a transceiver. The processing circuit is configured to generate a frame to have an extended subtype under a control type, configure a media access control (MAC) header of the frame to indicate an extended control frame format, and configure a field of the frame to be an extended subtype field according to the extended control frame format to carry an identification for the extended subtype. The extended subtype is defined in addition to a plurality of subtypes that are identifiable using a subtype field in the frame according to a control frame format. The transceiver is configured to transmit signals to carry the frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for beaconing within a wireless network based on an indication of distance. For certain example embodiments, in a wireless network in which a master device is a device configured to transmit a beacon within the wireless network, a first wireless communication device may determine, based on an indication of distance between two wireless communication devices, if the first wireless communication device is to act as a master device. For example, a wireless signal may be received. Based at least partially on the received wireless signal, an indication of distance between two wireless communication devices in a wireless network may be obtained. And based at least partially on the obtained indication of distance between the two wireless communication devices, it may be determined if a first wireless communication device is to act as a master device within the wireless network.

Abstract: A method for transmission of media access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) over a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel is described. A first physical layer (PHY) data unit is generated at a first communication device. The first PHY data unit has i) a data field that includes a first MPDU to be transmitted to a second communication device, and ii) a PHY signal field that includes a transmission version field set to indicate an initial transmission of the first MPDU. The first PHY data unit is transmitted over the WLAN communication channel to the second communication device. It is determined, at the first communication device, whether a first acknowledgment to the first MPDU has been received from the second communication device. In response to determining that the first acknowledgment has not been received, a second PHY data unit is generated at the first communication device.

Abstract: A method for generating a physical layer (PHY) data unit includes generating a first signal field to include multiple copies of first signal field content, wherein the first signal field content spans one sub-band of a plurality of sub-bands of the PHY data unit, and wherein the multiple copies collectively span the plurality of sub-bands of the PHY data unit; generating a second signal field to include multiple copies of second signal field content, wherein the second signal field content spans multiple ones of the plurality of sub-bands of the PHY data unit, and wherein the multiple copies of the second signal field collectively span the plurality of sub-bands of the PHY data unit; generating a preamble of the PHY data unit to include at least the first signal field and the second signal field; generating the PHY data unit to include at least the preamble.

Abstract: An access point including a receiving module to receive first information indicating whether a first device supports a dynamic clear channel assessment (CCA) capability, which includes an ability to dynamically change a CCA threshold in a frequency channel to detect whether a medium is idle or busy. A CCA module generates second information in response to receiving the first information about the first device. The second information is based on the first information and indicates a CCA method used by the access point in response to receiving the first information. A transmitting module transmits the second information in response to receiving the first information about the first device. The second information is usable by one or more devices associated with the access point in a basic service set of the access point to select respective CCA procedures to detect whether the medium is idle or busy.

Abstract: A wireless communication device including a first media access control device and a first transceiver. The first media access control device is configured to selectively generate a first timestamp having a first length and a second timestamp having a second length. The first timestamp indicates a first synchronization time of the wireless communication device, the second timestamp indicates only a first portion of the first synchronization time, and the first synchronization time is used by a client station to synchronize timing between the wireless communication device and the client station. The first media access control device is further configured to generate a beacon including either the first timestamp or the second timestamp, and an indication of whether the beacon includes the first timestamp or the second timestamp. The first transceiver is configured to transmit the beacon from the wireless communication device to the client station.

Abstract: A first wireless communication device including a timing module and a fine timing measurement module. The timing module is configured to provide a first timer value. The fine timing measurement module is configured to receive, from a second wireless communication device, a first request to perform a fine timing measurement to determine a distance between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, and transmit a first response including a first time to start a burst period for performing the fine timing measurement. The first time is one of included in the request received from the second wireless communication device and based on the first timer value. The fine timing measurement module is further configured to perform the fine timing measurement in the burst period starting at the first time.

Abstract: A first communication device transmits a first control frame to multiple second communication devices via a wireless communication medium, wherein the first control frame i) indicates to other communication devices that the wireless communication medium is reserved for a first time period, and ii) indicates that the second communication devices are requested to simultaneously transmit respective second control frames to the first communication device via the wireless communication medium, wherein the second control frames are to include information indicating to other communication devices that the wireless communication medium is reserved for a second time period that is a subset of the first time period.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus that includes a transceiver circuit and a processing circuit. The transceiver circuit is configured to receive a trigger signal this is transmitted by another apparatus. The trigger signal triggers transmissions by a first group of apparatuses including the apparatus, and defers transmissions by a second group of apparatuses that interfere the transmissions by the first group of apparatuses. The processing circuit is configured to, in response to the trigger signal, generate a frame with a first preamble structure that is different from a second preamble structure that is used by the second group of apparatuses, and provide the generated frame to the transceiver circuit for transmission.

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 configure a field within a data unit for buffer information report, determine a first scale factor for scaling a first value indicative of buffered traffic of a first category, and a second scale factor for scaling a second value indicative of buffered traffic of a category, configure the field to include the first scale factor with the first value and the second scale factor with the second value, and provide the data unit to the transceiver for transmitting to another apparatus that allocates resources for transmission between the two apparatuses.

Abstract: A wireless local area network system establishes a PASSPOINT™ connection between a mobile station and a hotspot using an enhanced single SSID method or an enhanced dual SSID method. In the dual SSID method, an access point associates and authenticates a mobile device to a secondary SSID of the access point during enrollment and provisioning. After enrollment, the access point authenticates the mobile station to a primary SSID of the access point using the credential that the mobile station received from an online sign-up (“OSU”) server in connection with the secondary SSID. In the single SSID method, an access point performs two levels of authentication. During authentication, communications are limited to an 802.1x controlled port running on the mobile station and access point. After a first authentication, communications between the OSU server and the mobile station are unblocked. After the second authentication, all traffic from the mobile station is unblocked.