Abstract: Various aspects provide a wireless station (STA) to implement congestion sensitive target wake time (TWT) communications scheduling and enable the STA to determine whether to engage in communications between TWT service periods. A method described includes identifying a congestion metric, determining whether the congestion metric meets a congestion threshold, and transmitting a request to establish TWT communications in response to determining that the congestion metric meets the congestion threshold. Another method described includes terminating a scheduled service period of a TWT communications, receiving an indication that a threshold number of frames is available for transmission to an STA from an access point (AP) or an indication that one or more frames are present in a transmission queue at the STA, and transmitting, by the STA to the AP an indication that a communications link is to remain active between the terminated scheduled service period and a subsequent scheduled service period.

Abstract: Various aspects provide a wireless station (STA) to implement congestion sensitive target wake time (TWT) communications scheduling and enable the STA to determine whether to engage in communications between TWT service periods. A method described includes identifying a congestion metric, determining whether the congestion metric meets a congestion threshold, and transmitting a request to establish TWT communications in response to determining that the congestion metric meets the congestion threshold. Another method described includes terminating a scheduled service period of a TWT communications, receiving an indication that a threshold number of frames is available for transmission to an STA from an access point (AP) or an indication that one or more frames are present in a transmission queue at the STA, and transmitting, by the STA to the AP an indication that a communications link is to remain active between the terminated scheduled service period and a subsequent scheduled service period.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may determine a plurality of TCP ACKs, and at least one of TCP data or UDP data for a multi-user transmission to a set of STAs. The apparatus may allocate the plurality of TCP ACKs to a PPDU before allocating the at least one of the TCP data and the UDP data to the PPDU. In certain aspects, the plurality of TCP ACKs may be frequency division multiplexed in the PPDU. In certain other aspects, the apparatus may transmit, to the set of STAs, the multi-user transmission including at least the plurality of frequency division multiplexed TCP ACKs.

Abstract: A method includes sending, from a first transmitter to a first receiver, a request to send (RTS) message associated with a first transmit opportunity (TXOP). The RTS message requests the first receiver to indicate whether reuse of the first TXOP is permitted. The method further includes receiving, at the first transmitter from the first receiver, a clear to send (CTS) message responsive to the RTS message.

Abstract: Uplink multi-user multiple-in, multiple-out (UL MU-MIMO) transmissions involve coordinating or scheduling stations communications with an access point. Methods and systems for scheduling UL MU-MIMO transmissions provide selection of stations permitted to communicate during the UL MU-MIMO transmission. One such method includes transmitting a first trigger message that requests each station to transmit a second message to the access point. The method also includes receiving the second messages from responding stations and estimating, based on the second messages, one or more parameters for each responding station. The method further includes generating a schedule for the stations to transmit data to the access point and transmitting a second trigger message to the stations, the second trigger message identifying the schedule and the stations that are scheduled to transmit UL data to the access point according to the schedule.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to determining a signaling field modulation and coding scheme (MCS) value for communicating information in a signaling field of a frame to a plurality of user devices. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications by an access point (AP). The method includes determining a signaling field modulation and coding scheme (MCS) value for communicating information in a signaling field of a frame to a plurality of user devices based on one or more data MCS values for communicating payload data of the frame to the plurality of user devices. The method further includes transmitting the frame to the plurality of user devices using the determined signaling field MCS value for the signaling field.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may determine a set of STAs for at least one of a MU-MIMO transmission or an OFDMA transmission. In certain aspects, the set of STAs may be associated with a set of acceptable MCSs determined based on MCSs excluded from a union of a plurality of sets of unacceptable MCSs. In certain other aspects, each set of unacceptable MCSs in the plurality of sets of unacceptable MCSs may be associated with a different STA in the set of STAs. The apparatus may transmit the at least one of the MU-MIMO transmission or the OFDMA transmission to the set of STAs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for rate adaptation in multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems for wireless local area networks (WLANs). When rate adaptation is based solely on packet error rate (PER) from feedback provided by wireless stations (STAs), the rate selection may not be optimal. In some scenarios, rate adaptation from the combined use of PER and MU signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (MU-SINR) can allow for better selection of the rate components, such as modulation coding scheme (MCS) and number of spatial streams (Nss). Accordingly, the present disclosure provides techniques in which a condition associated with transmitting an MU PLCP Protocol Data Unit (MU-PPDU) for multiple STAs is identified, packet error (e.g., PER) and signal strength (e.g., MU-SINR) metrics are determined for each STA in response to such condition, a rate for each STA is determined based on the respective metrics, and the MU-PPDU is transmitted according to the determined rates.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for grouping in multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems by using limited probing. With more wireless stations (STAs) being used in MU-MIMO groups, the probing used to obtain packet error metrics to determine the throughput for selecting the MU-MIMO groups for transmission can become more complex and involve a larger overhead. To reduce the probing overhead, various techniques are described in this disclosure. For example, an access point (AP) can identify a trigger to initiate a packet error probing. In response to the trigger, the AP embeds one or more probing packets that are part of the packet error probing within a short interframe space (SIFS)-burst data transmission process to take advantage of the existing structure of the process. Then, the AP can update at least one packet error metric (e.g., packet error rate or PER) based on feedback received in response to the probing packets.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for communicating channel selection constraints in a network having multiple access points (APs). In one aspect, a root AP may assist with channel selection (assignment) for the multiple APs. A first AP can provide channel operating constraints to the root AP to indicate one or more operating constraints for a particular channel that may be used by the first AP. The operating constraints may be based, at least in part, on a hardware characteristic of the first AP. For example, an operating constraint may indicate a minimum channel separation or a maximum transmit power to consider when the particular channel is used concurrently with another channel. In another aspect, the first AP can communicate a channel selection error and error code when a particular channel cannot be used due to an operating constraint.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for serving AP selection in a network having multiple access points (APs). In one aspect, a serving AP selection unit can steer a device (such as a client station, STA, or a child AP) based on a quality of service profile (such as a capacity requirement or a delay requirement) of the device. The device may be initially associated with a first AP (as the current serving AP) in the network. The serving AP selection unit may select a second AP as a new serving AP for the device, and cause the device to associate with the second AP rather than the first AP. The selection of a serving AP may take into account delay or hop count in addition to path capacities for various paths in the network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. An access point (AP) may communicate with a plurality of stations in a basic service set (BSS) according to a target wakeup time (TWT) slot duration. The AP may identify one or more congestion or interference factors for the BSS. In some cases, the AP may identify a congestion score based at least in part on at least one of the one or more congestion factors from one or more stations that can be part of its own BSS, and an interference score based at least in part on at least one of the one or more interference factors form one or more stations that are not part of AP's BSS. In some cases, the AP may modify the TWT slot duration based at least in part on the congestion score and the interference score.

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 apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for steering an association of a device in a network having multiple access points (APs). In one aspect, a first AP can obtain per-AP metric information regarding a plurality of other APs in the network. The per-AP metric information may include backhaul performance information regarding at least one wireless backhaul channel in the network. The per-AP metric information may include an estimated air time fraction value reported by the other APs. A selection to steer the device from the first AP to a second AP can be based, at least in part, on the per-AP metric information. In some implementations, a Multi-AP Controller can redistribute per-AP metric information collected from multiple APs in the network. In some implementations, a topology of the network may be optimized by steering a child AP to another wireless backhaul link.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for enhanced channel selection in a network having multiple access points (APs). The enhanced channel selection may optimize the overall performance of the network by incorporating considerations about the impact on other APs in a big-picture view of the network. In one aspect, enhanced channel selection may combine a first channel selection process at a first AP (based on first channel selection by the first AP) with a second channel selection at a Multi-AP Controller. Coordination between the first AP and the Multi-AP Controller may improve a channel selection technique to optimize channel selection based on considerations of the overall network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. More particularly, an access point (AP) identifies a plurality of multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) groups associated with a wireless station (STA). The AP determines a communication metric associated with each of the plurality of MU-MIMO groups. The communication metric provides an indication of the compatibility of the STAs in the MU-MIMO group. The AP prioritizes at least one of the plurality of MU-MIMO groups based at least in part on the communication metric associated with the prioritized MU-MIMO group. The AP creates a preferred group list and/or a blacklisted group list and included the prioritized MU-MIMO group in the appropriate group list.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer-readable media for wireless communication may involve techniques for managing multi-user (MU) operation when a device in a wireless network has coexisting radios. Such techniques may involve identifying a change in a multiple radio access technology (RAT) coexistence status of a first device, e.g., a change between a coexistence status that is not disruptive to MU communications and one that is disruptive. For a device communicating with a network using Wi-Fi, the change in the multiple RAT coexistence status may indicate a change between inactive Bluetooth (BT) communications and active BT communications concurrent with Wi-Fi communications. Based at least in part on the identified change in the multiple RAT coexistence status, a MU communications operation at a second device may be adjusted, for example, by disabling MU communication between the first and second devices over a first RAT when the first device changes to a coexistence status that may disrupt MU communications.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus may be configured to determine a scheduling metric for each respective station of a plurality of stations. The scheduling metric for each station may be based on an effective spatial-time-frequency physical layer (PHY) capability for the station and a consumption rate of spatial-time-frequency resources by the respective station. The effective spatial-time-frequency PHY capability for the station may be a product of a target percentage of spatial-time resources allocated to the station, an effective number of spatial streams supported by the respective station, and a maximum bandwidth. The consumption rate of spatial-time-frequency resources may be a transmit opportunity (TXOP) moving average of consumption rate by the station.

Abstract: A method includes determining, based on a first packet error rate (PER) associated with a first communication data rate of data sent from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, a predicted second PER associated with a second communication data rate by increasing a value of the predicted second PER based on a first signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) sensitivity associated with the first communication data rate being less than a second SNR sensitivity associated with the second communication data rate or by decreasing the value of the predicted second PER based on the first SNR sensitivity being greater than the second SNR sensitivity. The method further includes selecting a communication data rate for communication from the first electronic device to the second electronic device based at least in part on the first PER and the predicted second PER.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communications. A communication device may utilize enhanced roaming techniques to use multiple channel maps for a high density AP environment. For instance, a communication device performs at least a partial channel scan by a communications device while the communications device is connected to an access point (AP) associated with a basic service set identifier (BSSID). The communication device further selects a channel map from a plurality of channel maps associated with the BSSID based at least in part on the partial scan, wherein each of the channel maps associated with the BSSID comprises a different set of signal strength measurements for a same set of neighboring APs. The communication device also uses the selected channel map as a basis for a roaming operation by the wireless device.