Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate a data frame based on a compressed data frame format and to include control information in at least one field of the data frame, wherein the at least one field is not specified in the compressed data frame format and an interface for outputting the data frame for transmission. Another example apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate a frame having a first one or more bits indicating whether the frame has a compressed format and a second one or more bits indicating which of one or more fields are absent if the frame has a compressed format and an interface for outputting the frame for transmission.

Abstract: Embodiments of unscheduled peer power save systems, devices and methods are disclosed. For example, a method of saving power for nodes configured to communicate via a direct link is provided. In one embodiment, among others, the method comprises forming, at an access point node (AP node), a indication frame for a client node, when no service period has occurred for the client node for a period of time at least equal to an indication window; sending the formed indication frame from the AP node to the client node through an access point; receiving, at the client node, the peer traffic indication from the access point; and determining, at the client node, that the AP node has traffic to send to the client node based on the indication frame.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for communicating short control frames are described herein. In some aspects, a method of wireless communication includes generating a control frame comprising a physical layer preamble having a signal field, the signal field including an indicator indicating the control frame is a control frame type of frame. The method further includes transmitting the control frame.

Abstract: Techniques for proving enterprise mode security for relays are disclosed. For example, enterprise mode security based on IEEE 802.1x is provided for relays or other similar devices to extend the coverage of access point hotspots or other similar access point use cases. According to one aspect, a relay incorporates an authentication client associated with an authentication server. According to another aspect, a four address format is employed for tunneling messages via a relay between a station and an access point. According to another aspect, a cryptographic master key associated with an access point and a station is provided to a relay to enable the relay to be an authenticator for the station.

Abstract: Simultaneous, multi-user uplink communication is scheduled in a wireless network by transmitting a poll message to a plurality of access terminals in response to receiving a first request to transmit data via uplink. The poll message includes a solicitation for requests to transmit data from each of the plurality of access terminals. The poll message also includes a medium reservation and schedule for transmission of the requests from the access terminals. Based on the requests received from the access terminals, a number of the access terminals are selected for simultaneous transmission of data via uplink. A transmit start message is sent to each of the selected access terminals indicating when and for how long the selected access terminals may transmit data via uplink. After the data is received, a block ACK message is sent to each of the selected access terminals indicating successful simultaneous communication.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may allow a wireless device to process an Ethertype data packet encapsulated in a frame based on whether the frame contains an Ethertype Packet Discrimination (EPD) indicator. The wireless device may receive the frame from another wireless device over a wireless network, and may detect a presence of the EPD indicator in the received frame. Then, the wireless device may identify a protocol type of the Ethertype data packet according to an EPD operation based on the presence of the EPD indicator, or may identify the protocol type of the Ethertype data packet according to an LPD operation based on an absence of the EPD indicator.

Abstract: One of a normal acknowledgement (ACK) and block ACK may be selectively enabled for wireless transmissions using a Very High Throughput Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU). At least one designated bit may be set in a Physical Layer header of the PPDU for transmission from a transmitter to a receiver to indicate an ACK type selected from at least two of a normal ACK, a Block ACK, or no ACK. The PPDU may be transmitted in a Very High Throughput frame to the receiver where the designated bit can be used to provoke a normal ACK or Block ACK response to the PPDU, depending on the bit value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for multiple user communications in wireless networks are provided. In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided. The apparatus comprises a processing system configured to generate a clear to transmit message comprising a header having a local address field therein. The clear to send message indicates a transmission opportunity. The clear to send message further comprises a request that a plurality of devices concurrently transmit data at a specific time. The apparatus further comprises an interface configured to output the clear to send message for transmission to the plurality of devices. The processing system is further configured to insert one of a broadcast MAC address corresponding to the plurality of devices and a unicast MAC address corresponding to one of the plurality of devices into the local address field. The processing system is further configured to generate the header without generating a duration field therein.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that may increase the number of different element ID numbers that may be represented in an information element (IE) without significantly increasing the size of the IE and without altering existing parsers of various wireless devices. The IE may include a one-byte element ID field, a length field, an N-byte element ID extension field, and an information field 403. The one-byte element ID field may represent up to 28=256 possible values; 255 of these 256 possible values may represent unique element ID numbers, and one of these 256 possible values may be designated as a pointer to the N-byte element ID extension field, which may store up to 2N additional unique element ID numbers.

Abstract: Null data packet (NDP) frames for wireless communications are described herein. In one example, a method for wireless communication includes generating an NDP frame comprising a physical layer preamble having a legacy preamble portion and a non-legacy portion. The method may also include transmitting the NDP frame.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus is configured generate a frame that includes a preamble decodable by a first device type and by a second device type and a plurality of data units. The preamble includes a plurality of fields and each field of the plurality of fields is decodable by the first device type. Each data unit of the plurality of data units includes a payload and an error detection field decodable by the second device type. The apparatus is further configured to transmit the frame to a second wireless device.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for secure transmission of packets with short headers. The methods may include temporarily suspending the use of packets that use a short MAC header (that lack a Key ID field) during re-keying procedures and resuming the use of such packets after a new default Key ID is established via the re-keying procedures.

Abstract: Techniques for supporting communication over an extended range in a wireless network are disclosed. In one aspect, a station sends multiple messages of a given type for different operating modes. These messages can be detected by stations with different capabilities, which may avoid collisions between stations. In one design, a first station receives a Request-to-Send (RTS) message from a second station having data to send. The first station sends a first Clear-to-Send (CTS) message and also a second CTS message in response to the RTS message. The second CTS message has an extended range as compared to the first CTS message. The first station thereafter (i) receives data sent by the second station in response to the second CTS message and (ii) sends an acknowledgement having an extended range.

Abstract: Link adaptation is supported in a multi-user MIMO environment. In some aspects, a frame including a transmission parameter request (e.g., a null data packet announcement (NDPA) including a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) request (MRQ)) specifies multiple destinations. In some aspects, a decision to transmit a frame specifying multiple destinations is based on whether all of destinations support providing feedback to such a frame. In some aspects, transmission parameter feedback (e.g., MCS feedback (MFB)) including channel estimate information is provided in a case where MFB of type MU is requested.

Abstract: Link adaptation is supported in a multi-user MIMO environment. In some aspects, a frame including a transmission parameter request (e.g., a null data packet announcement (NDPA) including a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) request (MRQ)) specifies multiple destinations. In some aspects, a decision to transmit a frame specifying multiple destinations is based on whether all of destinations support providing feedback to such a frame. In some aspects, transmission parameter feedback (e.g., MCS feedback (MFB)) including channel estimate information is provided in a case where MFB of type MU is requested.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for communicating in a wireless network are provided. In one aspect, a non-zero portion of a node identifier may be used to generate a partial association identifier. If no portion of the node identifier can be determined to be non-zero, then a default value may be used for the partial association identifier. In some other aspects, the partial association identifier may be based on a random number. In some other aspects, a portion of a node identifier is evaluated to determine if it is zero. If the portion is non-zero, a partial association identifier is generated based on the portion. If the portion is zero, a partial association identifier is generated based on the portion.

Abstract: Various aspects of a communication device for supporting wireless communications for a plurality of stations associated with the communication device are provided. The communication device includes a processing system configured to determine whether each of the stations is capable of direct communications with another one of the stations while remaining associated with the communication device. The processing system may also maintain a list of the stations determined to be capable of such direct communications. In an aspect, the communication device may also include a transceiver configured to provide the list to a station of the plurality of stations in response to a request from the station. In an aspect, the request from the station may be included in an association request frame or an association response frame. In an aspect, the processing system may be configured to update the list and provide to the station the updated list in a beacon frame.

Abstract: Various aspects of a communication device for supporting wireless communication for a plurality of stations associated with the communication device are provided. The communication device includes a transceiver configured to receive a request for a wakeup schedule to support direct communications between a first one of the stations and a second one of the stations. In an aspect, the wakeup schedule request may be included in a beacon frame or a probe frame. The communication device also includes a processing system coupled to the transceiver and configured to determine the wakeup schedule for the direct communications based at least in part on the request for the wakeup schedule. In an aspect, the processing system may be configured to determine the wakeup schedule based on one or more parameters included in the wakeup schedule request. In an aspect, the wakeup schedule may include one or more wakeup intervals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for compressing block acknowledgment (ACK) frames/packets are described herein. In some aspects, a method of communicating in a wireless network includes a compressed block acknowledgment frame including a bitmap, the bitmap indicating receipt of a plurality of fragments of a single data unit. The method further includes transmitting the compressed block acknowledgment frame.

Abstract: A network device can be configured to dynamically vary a total back-off duration. The network device can determine a total transmit duration for transmitting data on a communication medium. If the total transmit duration exceeds a predetermined transmit interval associated with the data, the network device can determine the total back-off duration based, at least in part, on the total transmit duration and the predetermined transmit interval. The network device can initiate the total back-off duration by deferring data transmission on the communication medium during the total back-off duration. In some embodiments, if the network device implements multiple consecutive back-off intervals, the network device can determine whether to vary the duration of a second back-off interval depending on whether a transmission by another network device is detected on the communication medium after a first back-off interval elapses.