Abstract: 802.11ax nodes benefit from additional medium accesses through multi-user uplink provided by an AP, compared to legacy node. To restore fairness in medium access, the invention proposes to update node's EDCA parameters, in particular EDCA backoffs, using penalty values each time the node successfully transmits data to the AP over OFDMA resource units. This is to reduce the probability for the node to access anew a communication channel through conventional EDCA contention. The penalty value is preferably provided by the AP which has an overview of the system and may be adjusted based on information local to the node, for instance the amount of data transmitted or its current contention window. For instance, the penalty value is added to the current value of the EDCA backoff counters upon successful OFDMA transmission by the node.

Abstract: To easy the triggering by an AP MLD of uplink communications of low latency streams from non-AP MLD, the invention proposes that a local traffic stream be identified using a Stream Classification Service, SCS. The local SCS traffic stream is mapped onto a target TID which was previously mapped with an impacted UP. The local SCS stream is preferably assigned to an alternate queue of an AC. Said impacted UP is also mapped onto a fallback TID, corresponding to the primary queue of the same AC. The SCS stream is advertised to the AP using a SCS Request frame. Conventional fields can be used. A trigger frame from an affiliated AP of the AP MLD may then provide resource units to an affiliated non-AP station dedicated to the target TID, hence specific to the low latency SCS stream.

Abstract: In 802.11ax networks with access points, a trigger frame offers scheduled and random resource units to nodes for data uplink communication to the access points. To make more effective the usage of the network, the access point may design the trigger frame to force the nodes to send some categories of data. Resource units may be defined in trigger frames to be dedicated to small packets or to some access category data. Adjusting the time length of the resource units helps restricting the type of data that can be conveyed by the resource units. Also, using various frequency widths for resource units in the same trigger frame helps reducing padding in the resource units when various traffic types coexist.

Abstract: To avoid blocking node AC queues in the degraded MU EDCA mode due to regular OFDMA transmission of data from another AC queue in resource units provided by an AP, the present invention proposes to use a dedicated HEMUEDCATimer for each AC queue, in order for them to be able to exit the degraded MU EDCA mode independently of the other AC queues. In this respect, upon successfully transmitting data stored in two or more traffic queues, in each of one or more accessed resource units provided by the AP within one or more transmission opportunities, the node sets each traffic queue transmitting in the accessed resource unit in the degraded MU EDCA mode for a predetermined degrading duration counted down by a respective timer associated with the transmitting traffic queue. Next, upon expiry of any timer, the node switches back the associated traffic queue to the conventional EDCA mode.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a wireless communication method in a wireless network comprising a plurality of access points (APs) sharing a communication channel, each AP is configured to manage stations of a basic service set (BSS), the method comprising at a coordinator AP: signaling to another AP, referred to as coordinated AP, that the coordinator AP has gained access to the communication channel; and sending to the coordinated AP a resource allocation allocating a chunk of the communication channel for stations managed by the coordinated AP.

Abstract: 802.11ac networks define an operating band made of an ordered series of 20 MHz channels and authorize a restricted number of possible composite channel configurations to be used for data transmission. A method of transmitting data between a source and a receiver in such a wireless network may comprise, at the source: sending, to the receiver, RTS fames to request reservation of a composite channel, the RTS frames including a flag signalling the source supports transmission over un-authorized composite channels, for instance over sub-channels not contiguous within the operating band; receiving, from the receiver in response to the RTS frames, CTS frames acknowledging reservation of un-authorized composite channel configuration, for instance of non-contiguous sub-channels; and then transmitting, to the receiver, data frames on the reserved sub-channels of the un-authorized configuration, for instance on the reserved non-contiguous sub-channels within the operating band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless communication method in a wireless network comprising an access point and stations. The method comprises, at a station: receiving a trigger frame from the access point, the trigger frame reserving a transmission opportunity on at least one communication channel of the wireless network, the transmission opportunity including a random resource unit that the stations may access using a contention scheme; receiving parameters of the contention scheme in management frames from the access point, the parameters comprising a contention window range; contending access to the random resource unit of the transmission opportunity reserved by the received trigger frame, using a contention window value; and updating the contention window value based on the success or failure of the access to the random resource unit. The updated contention window value remains within the contention window range obtained from the most recently received contention scheme parameters.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to enhanced multi-user (MU) uplink (UL) protocols in wireless networks that allow non-UL transmissions to be performed simultaneously with triggered MU UL transmissions. A station may send a trigger frame triggering MU transmissions with an appropriate signaling to allow non-UL transmissions, i.e. transmission to another station, in a resource unit of the MU transmission. Examples of non-UL transmissions include Direct Link transmissions as well as downlink (DL) transmissions.

Abstract: The invention provides a random access mechanism for short feedback procedure. An AP provides a random-access NFRP trigger frame defining a random access for the stations to a plurality of RU tone sets. A non-AP station randomly selects a responding RU tone set from the plurality of RU tone sets and send a NDP feedback report response on the selected responding RU tone set. A dedicated backoff counter may be used for the purposes of contention to the random RU tone sets. A subsequent UL MU transmission can then be scheduled by the AP for the NDP responding stations. No unused RU is expected, improving the random-access network efficiency. Also, the number of non-AP stations that can be targeted by the random-access NFRP trigger frame can be easily increased.

Abstract: In an 802.11ax network with an access point, a trigger frame offers scheduled and random resource units to nodes for data uplink communication to the access point. To avoid the overall energy level seen by legacy nodes for a communication channel to drop below a detection threshold, the invention provides two tools. First, the scheduled and random resource units may be interleaved over communication channels. Second, unused resource units may be detected, and a node or the access point may send a padding signal on them to increase the overall energy level. The latter may be evaluated during a monitoring period before deciding to emit the signal. As the overall energy level seen by legacy nodes is increased, the risk that such legacy nodes do not detect activity on a 20 MHz channel having only a subpart of its RUs used is reduced. And risks of collisions are consequently reduced.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a wireless communication method in a wireless network comprising a plurality of access points (APs) sharing a communication channel, each AP is configured to manage stations of a basic service set (BSS), the method comprising at a coordinator AP: signaling to another AP, referred to as coordinated AP, that the coordinator AP has gained access to the communication channel; and sending to the coordinated AP a resource allocation allocating a chunk of the communication channel for stations managed by the coordinated AP.

Abstract: 802.11ac networks define an operating band made of an ordered series of 20 MHz channels and authorize a restricted number of possible composite channel configurations to be used for data transmission. A method of transmitting data between a source and a receiver in such a wireless network may comprise, at the source: sending, to the receiver, RTS fames to request reservation of a composite channel, the RTS frames including a flag signalling the source supports transmission over un-authorized composite channels, for instance over sub-channels not contiguous within the operating band; receiving, from the receiver in response to the RTS frames, CTS frames acknowledging reservation of un-authorized composite channel configuration, for instance of non-contiguous sub-channels; and then transmitting, to the receiver, data frames on the reserved sub-channels of the un-authorized configuration, for instance on the reserved non-contiguous sub-channels within the operating band.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to enhanced multi-user (MU) uplink (UL) protocols in wireless networks that allow non-UL transmissions to be performed simultaneously with triggered MU UL transmissions. A station may send a trigger frame triggering MU transmissions with an appropriate signaling to allow non-UL transmissions, i.e. transmission to another station, in a resource unit of the MU transmission. Examples of non-UL transmissions include Direct Link transmissions as well as downlink (DL) transmissions.

Abstract: The invention provides multi-user communication in a MU Uplink transmission opportunity in case of a multi-BSS environment of a wireless network. Resource units with AID=0 or 2045 are available for stations to transmit data to addressee virtual access points (VAPs) other than the VAP having initiated the TXOP. The initiating VAP receiving frames from the resources forwards them to the appropriate addressee VAPs within the same physical AP. Responses may be provided by the addressee VAPs directly to the stations or via the initiating VAP or the representative VAP. This approach increases the opportunities for the stations to access the medium in case of multiple BSSs. Better usage of the MU Uplink OFDMA transmission is also made.

Abstract: A flexible NFRP procedure is proposed where the AP can adjust the granularity of the possible answers to a given question. The NFRP trigger frame includes a tone set configuration indication representative of a number of tone groups per RU tone set. The number of possible FEEDBACK_STATUS values consequently also varies, making it possible for the AP to poll the stations for more detailed feedback reports. A station determines which FEEDBACK_STATUS values are available, calculates its FEEDBACK_STATUS value and retrieves the corresponding subset of tone groups on which energy must be sent. Due to the multiples existing tone set configurations, the station also determines the tones forming the subset to be activated, based on the tone set configuration indication. The station can then properly send its feedback report response by activating (emitting energy on) the appropriate tunes and therefore the appropriate tone groups.

Abstract: A communication method in a communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one node comprising a plurality of traffic queues for serving data traffic at different priorities, each traffic queue being associated with a respective queue backoff value computed from respective queue contention parameters having first and second values in, respectively, a first and a second contention modes, obtaining quality of service requirements of data stored in a traffic queue of the node; checking whether the quality of service requirements can be fulfilled when accessing the communication channel using the second contention mode; if the requirements cannot be fulfilled as the result of the checking, disabling access to resource units provided by the other node within one or more transmission opportunities granted to the other node on the communication channel; and transmitting data stored in the traffic queue using the first contention mode.

Abstract: Known stream classification service (SCS) has been improved for multi-link support. The low latency streams are identified with a SCSID. Improved SCS mechanisms may be used to allow a station to report link preference associated with low latency streams. Adapted SCS may also be used for negotiating a set of link for transmission of the low latency streams. An amended trigger frame may be used by the AP for scheduling the low latency streams. It is also proposed to adapt the target wake time (TWT) service period for allowing low latency dedicated TWT periods adapted to transmit streams identified with a SCSID.

Abstract: A communication method in a communication device includes storing a first type of data and a second type of data belonging to a same access category defined by IEEE802.11 series, contending for access according to an enhanced distributed channel access, EDCA, using first EDCA parameters, to a communication channel in order to transmit the first type of data to another communication device; and contending for access according to the EDCA, using second EDCA parameters different from the first EDCA parameters, to the communication channel in order to transmit the second type of data to the other communication device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a communication method in a wireless communication network comprising an access point, AP, multi-link device, MLD, having multiple affiliated access points, and at least one station MLD, having multiple affiliated stations, both station MLD and AP MLD being able to exchange data using one or more links, the method comprising at the station MLD: transmitting to the AP MLD a multi-link buffer status report, ML-BSR, comprising an indication relating to an amount of data to be transmitted, for the AP MLD to schedule a resource to the station MLD to transmit data; and wherein the ML-BSR further comprises an indication relating to a link on which the station MLD expects to be scheduled for the transmission of the amount of data to be transmitted.

Abstract: A flexible NFRP procedure is proposed where the AP can adjust the granularity of the possible answers to a given question. The NFRP trigger frame includes a tone set configuration indication representative of a number of tone groups per RU tone set. The number of possible FEEDBACK_STATUS values consequently also varies, making it possible for the AP to poll the stations for more detailed feedback reports. A station determines which FEEDBACK_STATUS values are available, calculates its FEEDBACK_STATUS value and retrieves the corresponding subset of tone groups on which energy must be sent. Due to the multiples existing tone set configurations, the station also determines the tones forming the subset to be activated, based on the tone set configuration indication. The station can then properly send its feedback report response by activating (emitting energy on) the appropriate tunes and therefore the appropriate tone groups.