Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing changes to Basic Service Set (BSS) parameters of an access point (AP) in a synchronized manner across multiple physical layer (PHY) formats. In some implementations, an AP may enable STAs that use different PHY formats to implement the changes at substantially the same time. For example, the change in BSS may be aligned with a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of a first PHY format, and the AP may broadcast information, in a second PHY format, pointing to the TBTT of the first PHY format. In some other implementations, the AP may enable the STAs to implement the changes at different times. For example, STAs using a first PHY format may implement the change at a TBTT of the first PHY format, whereas STAs using a second PHY format may implement the change at a TBTT of the second PHY format.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for selectively acquiring communication frames from a transmitting device capable of formatting the communication frames in accordance with a plurality of PHY formats. In some implementations, a STA may filter or discard duplicate frames received from an AP based, at least in part, on a preference of the STA for one of the plurality of PHY formats. The filtering may be performed at the PHY, without forwarding received communication frames to the media access control layer (MAC) for further processing. In some other implementations, an AP may refrain from sending duplicate frames to a STA based, at least in part, on a preferred frame format of the STA. Still further, in some implementations, the STA may dynamically adjust or update its preferred frame format based on changes in the distance, or channel conditions, between the STA and the AP.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Devices in a wireless network may be grouped into a basic service set (BSS), which may enable coordination of communications within the network. A BSS may have an associated coverage area. Some devices may be operable to communicate using extended range (ER) transmissions, which may increase the size of the coverage area associated with the BSS. In some cases, an access point (AP) may support multiple BSSs with equivalent security profiles. A first BSS may exclusively support ER transmissions, while a second BSS may support non-ER transmissions. Techniques are described for a wireless device to discover one or more of the BSSs associated with a given AP, associate with at least one of the discovered BSSs, and in some cases switch between the BSSs with equivalent security profiles. The discussed techniques may provide more efficient communications in the wireless network.

Abstract: Method, systems, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. More particularly, a wireless station may connect to a wireless network using a first radio frequency (RF) band and detect a signal strength of the first RF band is greater than a roaming threshold. The wireless station may perform a plurality of scans for support by the wireless network of a second RF band in response to the detected signal strength. Each scan may occur when the signal strength of the first RF band is greater than the roaming threshold. The wireless station may selectively connect to the wireless network using the second RF band based at least in part on the scanning and a throughput supported by the wireless network over the second RF band. The first RF band may be a 2.4 GHz band and the second RF band may be a 5 GHz band.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for dynamically changing one or more operating parameters of a wireless network. In some aspects, an AP may detect the presence of an overlapping BSS having the same color as its own BSS. Upon detecting a color collision, the AP may temporarily disable color-related features (such as intra-PPDU power save, multi-NAV operation, spatial reuse, and the like) of its associated STAs. If the color collision persists beyond a threshold duration, the AP may dynamically change the color of its own BSS to a different BSS color. In some other aspects, the AP may detect the presence of an overlapping BSS having the same TBTT as its own. Upon detecting a beacon collision, the AP may expedite or delay the timing of its own TBTT so that it does not interfere or overlap with the TBTT of another BSS.

Abstract: A wireless device (e.g., a station (STA)) may receive a transmission soliciting a control transmission (e.g., a soliciting transmission). The STA may identify a transmission parameter indicator, which may indicate a change in one or more parameters in a control response transmission parameter set (e.g., a set of parameters used for control transmissions in response to the soliciting transmission). The STA may transmit the control transmission in response to the soliciting transmission based on the identified transmission parameter indicator. The control response transmission parameter set may include a frame format, a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) format, a bandwidth, a modulation scheme, an encoding scheme, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a number of spatial streams (NSS), and/or a PPDU duration. In some cases, the transmission parameter indicator may indicate disabling or resumption of extended range (ER) single user (SU) PPDU format usage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Wireless devices may use multiple transmission modes to enable association and authentication procedures for wireless devices with different capabilities. For example, a station may receive, in response to a broadcast probe request, a probe response frame formatted according to a first transmission mode. The station may then transmit a second probe request frame formatted according to the first transmission mode. At some later time, the station may identify that the second probe request frame was not received by the wireless device, and may transmit another probe request frame formatted according to an extended range transmission mode. The station may then establish a connection with the wireless device by completing an association and authentication procedure, and proceed to transmit data or control frames formatted according to the extended range transmission mode.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A wireless device (e.g., an access point or a station) capable of supporting multiple chain configuration modes may monitor traffic on a wireless channel. The wireless device may, based on the monitoring, determine a series of values for a metric that is indicative of communication conditions. The metric may be a packet rate, channel congestion, or signal strength. The wireless device may dynamically select one of the supported chain configuration modes in which to operate based on the series of values for the metric. In some cases, the wireless device may compute a value for the metric based on the series of values and compare the value of the metric to a predetermined threshold. In such cases, selection of the chain configuration mode may be based on the results of the comparison. In some examples, one or metrics may be used.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. An access point (AP) transmits instructions to quiet a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) home channel for a period of time. Instructions can include a quiet information element (IE) or a clear-to-send to self (CTS2Self) frame. The AP then allocates a first dedicated RF chain to a first media access control (MAC) component and a second dedicated RF chain, separate from the first dedicated RF chain, to a second MAC component of the access point. The allocation can include reducing the number of RF chains dedicated to the first MAC component. During the time period determined by the instructions, the first dedicated RF chain scans the home DFS channel and the second dedicated RF chain scans at least one other channel (e.g., based at least in part on the time period and channel scan priority) in the same band as the DFS home channel.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for obtaining a measurement of a range between two devices. For example, wireless stations may obtain a measurement of range between the wireless stations based, at least in part, on an exchange messages such as fine timing measurement (FTM) messages. In a particular implementation, FTM messages may be received at a transceiver device in a burst of FTM messages from a responding wireless station. An acknowledgement messages may be transmitted to the responding wireless station immediately in response to receipt of the FTM message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. An access point (AP) may direct stations (STAs) to use a request-to-send (RTS)/clear-to-send (CTS) mode so the AP may perform power savings and off-channel operations without disrupting the communications of nearby devices. In some cases, the AP may use traffic conditions to identify a power save period and subsequently transmit an indication of an RTS/CTS mode to multiple STAs. In one example, the AP may power down at least one radio frequency (RF) chain and enter into a sleep mode. Additionally or alternatively, during the power save period the AP may receive an RTS from a STA and power up additional radio chains for MIMO communication. In some cases, the AP may identify an off-channel operations period based on traffic conditions and perform the off-channel operations after indicating the RTS/CTS mode to a set of STAs.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments facilitate wireless channel calibration, including ranging and direction finding, between wirelessly networked devices. In some embodiments. a method on a first station (STA) may comprise: transmitting a first NDPA frame to one or more second stations (STAs), the first NDPA frame comprising a first bit indicating that one or more subsequent frames comprise ranging or angular information; and transmitting, after a Short Interval Frame Space (SIFS) time interval, a second frame. The second frame may be one of: a Null Data Packet az (NDP_az) frame with information about a time of transmission of the NDP_az frame, or a Null Data Packet (NDP) frame, or a Beam Refinement Protocol (BRP) frame. The first NDPA frame may be unicast, multicast, or broadcast.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments facilitate wireless channel calibration, ranging, and direction finding, between networked devices. A method on a first station (STA) may comprise: broadcasting, at a first time, a first NDPA frame to a plurality of second STAs. The first NDPA frame may include a first bit indicating that one or more subsequent frames comprise ranging or angular information. After a Short Interval Frame Space (SIFS) time interval from the first time, a second frame may be broadcast. The second frame may be a Null Data Packet (NDP) frame. In response, a plurality of Compressed Beamforming (CBF) frames may be received at the first STA where each CBF frame may be received from a distinct corresponding second STA, and may include Channel Feedback Information field with information pertaining to communication channel between the first STA and the corresponding second STA. The communications may be encoded using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for obtaining a range between devices based, at least in part, on an exchange of wireless messages. For example, wireless devices may obtain measurements of range based, at least in part, on an exchange fine timing measurement (FTM) messages. In one implementation, an initial FTM request message may be transmitted from a first wireless transceiver device to a second wireless transceiver device comprising one or more parameters indicative of a request for transmission of FTM messages in a particular format.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for establishing and maintaining network connections based on ranging information. In one aspect, a wireless device is configured to identify one or more candidate access points (APs) within a vicinity of the wireless device, and exchange fine timing measurement (FTM) frames with candidate APs to determine respective distances between the wireless device and each of the candidate APs. In some aspects, the exchange of FTM frames may be performed when the wireless device is not associated with any AP. In some other aspects, the exchange of FTM frames may be performed when the wireless device is already associated with an existing AP, for example, to determine whether a roaming condition is satisfied. The wireless device then selects one of the candidate APs, based at least in part on the FTM frames, and associates with the selected candidate AP.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. An access point may use a protection mechanism to cause stations to defer from accessing the wireless medium during a quiet duration. During the quiet duration the access point may transmit data packets to stations. After the quiet duration, a contention period may be present to allow stations to monitor the medium to make sure the medium is continuously idle before attempting a transmission. The access point may determine a quiet duration based on a number of data packets pending transmission to at least one station. Furthermore, the access point may transmit data packets to a number of stations during the quiet duration. By determining the quiet duration based on a number of data packets, the access point may reduce the overall number of contention periods which may increase throughput and decrease power consumption.

Abstract: Method, systems, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. More particularly, a wireless station may connect to a wireless network using a first radio frequency (RF) band and detect a signal strength of the first RF band is greater than a roaming threshold. The wireless station may perform a plurality of scans for support by the wireless network of a second RF band in response to the detected signal strength. Each scan may occur when the signal strength of the first RF band is greater than the roaming threshold. The wireless station may selectively connect to the wireless network using the second RF band based at least in part on the scanning and a throughput supported by the wireless network over the second RF band. The first RF band may be a 2.4 GHz band and the second RF band may be a 5 GHz band.