Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for a base station to signal user equipment to monitor a narrowband control channel in a wideband system. The base station sends a configuration signaling to configure the user equipment including a designation of subframe(s). The base station then determines whether to signal the user equipment to monitor the subframe(s) using one of a narrowband bandwidth and a system bandwidth. In response to the base station signaling the user equipment to monitor the narrowband bandwidth, the base station communicates with the user equipment using the narrowband bandwidth. In response to the base station signaling the user equipment to monitor the system bandwidth, the base station sends a probe message within the narrowband bandwidth to the user equipment, where the probe message signals to the user equipment to begin monitoring the system bandwidth and to communicate with the user equipment using the system bandwidth.

Abstract: A method for operating a UE includes receiving, by the UE during an initial access sequence, a plurality of first inbound beams each transmitted by a communications controller in a different transmit direction over a first carrier, where the first inbound beams have a different subcarrier frequency range from each other, generating values of a receive metric in accordance with the first inbound beams, selecting one of the first inbound beams in accordance with the receive metric values, transmitting, by the UE, an indication of the selected first inbound beam, and receiving, by the UE, a second inbound beam transmitted by the communications controller in a transmit direction in accordance with the indication of the selected first inbound beam, where the second inbound beam has a second subcarrier frequency range of the first carrier that is different than a first subcarrier frequency range of the selected first inbound beam.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a communications controller to a user equipment (UE), a first data block on a first carrier and transmitting, by the communications controller to the UE, a first downlink control information (DCI) to initiate a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process associated with the first data block. The method also includes retransmitting, by the communications controller to the UE, the first data block and transmitting, by the communications controller to the UE, a second DCI, where the second DCI includes a first transmission indicator and an indicator of the first carrier, and where the second DCI continues the HARQ process.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided to enable differentiated association of stations (STAs) in a WiFi system and provide differentiated quality of service (QoS) based association. The embodiments include categorizing STAs that share a channel of the WiFi network into different association priority classes, wherein the STAs with higher association priority classes wait for shorter times before starting association with an access point (AP) over the shared channel. The association priority classes are assigned by the AP or the WiFi network and signaled to the STAs. Alternatively, the association priority classes are assigned by the STAs and indicated to the AP or the WiFi network. The association priority class is determined for a STA according to traffic type, device type, subscriber type, or a random number generator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for setting a clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold includes receiving, by a station from a first access point, a first message including an information element and determining a CCA threshold in accordance with the information element. The method also includes detecting a power level of a channel between the station and the access point to produce a first detected power level and comparing the first detected power level and the CCA threshold. Additionally, the method includes transmitting, by the station to the first access point on the channel, a second message when the detected power level is less than the CCA threshold.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving, by a network device, collided first and second transmissions, signaling a retransmission request to a first source of the collided first transmission, receiving a retransmitted first transmission, and recovering the collided second transmission using the collided first and second transmissions and the retransmitted first transmission.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving, by a network device, collided first and second transmissions, signaling a retransmission request to a first source of the collided first transmission, receiving a retransmitted first transmission, and recovering the collided second transmission using the collided first and second transmissions and the retransmitted first transmission.

Abstract: The hidden node problem can be avoided by scheduling stations in different sectors to perform transmissions during different time periods. Sectorized scheduling can be communicated to stations through transmission of beamformed beacon signals at the beginning of respective time periods. For instance, a first beamformed beacon signal may be transmitted to stations in a first sector at the beginning of a first time period, while a second beamformed beacon signal may be transmitted to stations in a second sector at the beginning of a second time period.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided to enable differentiated association of stations (STAs) in a WiFi system and provide differentiated quality of service (QoS) based association. The embodiments include categorizing STAs that share a channel of the WiFi network into different association priority classes, wherein the STAs with higher association priority classes wait for shorter times before starting association with an access point (AP) over the shared channel. The association priority classes are assigned by the AP or the WiFi network and signaled to the STAs. Alternatively, the association priority classes are assigned by the STAs and indicated to the AP or the WiFi network. The association priority class is determined for a STA according to traffic type, device type, subscriber type, or a random number generator.