Abstract: To make effective the usage of network resources and timely handling of low latency traffic, and in particular IEEE 802.11 networks, it is described according to an aspect of the invention a method of communication comprising, at an access-point, AP: contending for access to a wireless medium, a provision period prior a start of a low latency, LL, service period, SP, dedicated for transmitting LL traffic; and upon gaining access to the wireless medium, reserving an AP transmission opportunity encompassing the LL SP, thereby allowing transmission of LL traffic during the LL SP.

Abstract: The invention relates in one of its aspects to a method of communication in a wireless network comprising an access point multi-link device, AP MLD, and the wireless network further comprising a first and a second station multi-link devices, STA MLDs. The method comprising: establishing a first link between a station of the first STA MLD and an Access Point of the AP MLD; establishing a second link between a station of the second STA MLD and an Access Point of the AP MLD; establishing a third direct link between station of the first STA MLD and a station of the second STA MLD; and transferring data between the first and the second STA MLDs through the third link.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a communication method in a wireless communication network, wherein the method comprises at a station: sending to an access point station a frame comprising a buffer status report reporting an amount of buffered data to be transmitted; receiving, from the access point station, an allocation of a resource unit for the transmission of the buffered data; and transmitting the buffered data in the allocated resource unit; wherein the frame sent to the access point station further comprises a time indication representative of a time limit for the transmission of the buffered data by the station.

Abstract: In a 802.11be multi-AP collaboration, collaborated BSSs obtaining shared resource from a collaborator AP. Co-channel interferences arise from misalignment of PHY preambles between the various collaborated and collaborator BSSs. This misalignment results from the independency of each BSSs during the shared TXOP. To overcome this deficient situation, a synchronization frame is sent by the collaborator AP at a predefined sync time over the shared frequency bands, even if the collaborator AP does not belong to the BSSs operating on these bands. The predefined sync time may derive from the UL Length field specified in the initial trigger frame. Consequently, all the stations are ready to receive the synchronization frame and therefore to start again their MU or P2P transmission a SIFS after the synchronization frame. PHY preambles in adjacent channels are therefore fully aligned.

Abstract: A non-AP MLD (120) obtains a link ID, which defines an off-link corresponding to at least one off-channel (172b) that does not overlap the channel(s) used by the AP device. The non-AP MLD (120) establishes, through the channel(s) used by the AP device, a TDLS direct link, between a first TDLS STA, (122) affiliated with the non-AP MLD (120) and a second TDLS STA (132) of a second non-AP MLD (130), using the link ID as an indication of the off-link for the TDLS direct link. The non-AP MLD (120) operates a peer-to-peer communication between the first and second TDLS STAs, over the off-link.

Abstract: To make effective the usage of network resources and timely handling of low latency traffic, and in particular IEEE 802.11 networks, it is described according to an aspect of the invention a method of communication comprising, at an access-point, AP: contending for access to a wireless medium, a provision period prior a start of a low latency, LL, service period, SP, dedicated for transmitting LL traffic; and upon gaining access to the wireless medium, reserving an AP transmission opportunity encompassing the LL SP, thereby allowing transmission of LL traffic during the LL SP.

Abstract: The present invention provides according to one of its aspects a method of communication in a wireless network comprising an access point and a plurality of stations, the method comprising, at one of the stations: 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 random resource units that the stations may access using a contention scheme, wherein the trigger frame includes a first indicator specifying a traffic type of data allowed to be sent on at least one of the random resource units; determining, based on the first indicator, eligible resource units, among the resource units in the reserved transmission opportunity, for the station to contend for access for transmitting data; and transmitting data on a determined eligible resource unit using a contention scheme.

Abstract: In a 802.11be multi-AP collaboration, collaborated devices obtaining shared resources announced by a collaborator AP re-announce the shared resource for the stations out of the transmission range of the collaborator AP. Given the short time available, the re-announcing frame binary repeats most of the initial announcement by the collaborator AP, in particular substantially the whole MAC payload thereof. In order to facilitate the identification of the re-announcing, the latter comprises an empty TA field or no TA field in its header. This additionally allows any AP to act as the coordinator AP.

Abstract: A non-AP MLD operates in an EML mode that applies in a set of EML links. The non-AP MLD receives, by a first affiliated station, a first beacon frame over a first link of the EML links, the first beacon frame including a TBTT related to a second beacon frame. Moreover, the non-AP MLD configures the first affiliated station to be in a receiving state at the TBTT to receive the second beacon frame.

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: An 802.11ax access point, AP, manage a granted transmission opportunity to schedule multi user uplink and downlink transmissions with non-AP stations. Resource units may also be allocated to non-AP stations for direct link, DiL, transmissions. To efficiently arbitrate between scheduling new MU UL transmissions or DiL transmissions, the AP must know the needs of the non-AP stations. The buffer status report, BSR, either solicited or unsolicited, provides an ACI Bitmap subfield and a Delta TID subfield to signal a number of TIDs for which buffered uplink traffic is declared. The BSR is amended so that these two subfields further signal, in addition to the buffered UL traffic, when there is buffered DiL traffic. Other subfields may provide more information on the amount of buffered DiL traffic.

Abstract: An EMLSR-active non-AP MLD desires to initiate a frame exchange with the AP MLD over one of the EMLSR links. A first link is chosen and the corresponding “first” affiliated STA invokes and starts an EDCA backoff procedure that decrements one or more backoff counters, to access the first link. Alternatively, each EMLSR co-affiliated STA may invoke an EDCA backoff procedure to access their respective link. In embodiments, the first affiliated STA is switched from a listening operation state to an enabled frame exchange state, before invoking the EDCA backoff procedure. In other embodiments, the first affiliated STA first invokes the EDCA backoff procedure, and is switched to the enabled frame exchange state when the backoff counter expires. A corresponding state switching procedure may be invoked so that it ends with the expiry of the backoff counter, or responsive to an expiry of the backoff counter.

Abstract: The present invention provides according to one of its aspects a method of communication in a wireless network comprising an access point and a plurality of stations, the method comprising, at one of the stations: 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 random resource units that the stations may access using a contention scheme, wherein the trigger frame includes a first indicator specifying a traffic type of data allowed to be sent on at least one of the random resource units; determining, based on the first indicator, eligible resource units, among the resource units in the reserved transmission opportunity, for the station to contend for access for transmitting data; and transmitting data on a determined eligible resource unit using a contention scheme.

Abstract: In a 802.11 be multi-AP collaboration, collaborated devices obtaining shared resources announced by a collaborator AP re-announce the shared resource for the stations out of the transmission range of the collaborator AP. Given the short time available, the re-announcing frame binary repeats most of the initial announcement by the collaborator AP, in particular substantially the whole MAC payload thereof. In order to facilitate the identification of the re-announcing, the latter comprises an empty TA field or no TA field in its header. This additionally allows any AP to act as the coordinator AP.

Abstract: To perform P2P transmissions within restricted Target Wake Time service period, rTWT service periods, an initiator peer station establishes membership in an rTWT schedule with the AP of the BSS, establishes a Tunneled Direct Link Setup, TDLS, session with its partner peer station, and efficiently notifies the partner peer station about the rTWT schedule using a TDLS Action frame that carries rTWT information, such as a Broadcast TWT Identifier, about the rTWT schedule. The TDLS Action frame may be a modified TDLS Peer Traffic Indication frame or of a new type or the modified TDLS Setup Request Action frame used for the TDLS session establishment. Thanks to this notification, the partner peer station can awake at the appropriate times of the rTWT service periods as specified in beacon frames from the AP, in order to receive or exchange peer-to-peer data directly with the initiator peer station.

Abstract: To facilitate P2P transmissions within a restricted Target Wake Time, rTWT, schedule, an AP of a BSS that has established membership of a peer station in the rTWT schedule and that detects P2P traffic between the peer station and a partner peer station of the BSS, may notify the partner peer station about the existing rTWT schedule. The AP may further invite the peer stations to establish a Direct Link communication session. The notification may be included in said invitation or be carried through an unsolicited TWT frame enrolling the partner peer station in the rTWT schedule. It turns out that the partner peer station now wakes up for the service periods of the rTWT schedule, hence facilitating the direct or relayed transmission of P2P data within one and the same service period.

Abstract: A physical AP manages a plurality of BSSs through VAPs. The AP sends a trigger frame to reserve a TXOP including resource units the nodes access to transmit data during the reserved TXOP. To improve channel utilization, the trigger frame identifies a plurality of groups, nodes of which are allowed to access the resources units to transmit data during the reserved TXOP. Thus, the AP receives, during the reserved TXOP, data from one node of a first group identified in the trigger frame and data from one node (separate from the first one) of a second and separate group identified in the trigger frame. A single access by the AP to the medium is thus required, reducing the channel occupation due to control frames. In some embodiments, the number of trigger frames can be drastically reduce, while offering resource units to several BSSs.

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. The present disclosure regards how the MAC/PHY interface at an AP and at non-AP stations can be modified to efficiently handle the DiL and DL transmissions. On one hand, a non-AP station recipient of DiL or DL transmissions can use an 802.11ax TRIGVECTOR to efficiently configure its PHY. On the other hand, the AP can configure its PHY to filter out the DiL/DL RUs.

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: The invention relates to wireless network comprising an access point and non-AP stations. The station has traffic queues and associated a backoff counters which are decremented over time upon continuously sensing the medium as free during more than respective AIFS durations. To compensate additional opportunities provided by OFDMA RUs, a queue switches to an MU mode upon transmitting its data in an RU provided by the AP. To restore dynamicity of the backoff counters, frozen in the MU mode in the known techniques, embodiments provide the following at each expiry of one of the queue backoff counters: the current mode of the expiring traffic queue is determined; in case of legacy mode, the station accesses the channel to transmit data from the queue; whereas in case of MU mode, a new backoff value is drawn to reset the expiring backoff counter, without having data from the queue being transmitted.