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: 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: In an 802.11ax network with an access point, a trigger frame offers random resource units to nodes for data uplink communication to the access point. To dynamically adapt the contention mechanism used by the nodes to access the random resource units, the AP updates a correcting TBD parameter at each new TXOP and includes the updated adjusting parameter in the trigger frame for the next TXOP. The nodes use the TBD parameter to generate a local random RU backoff value from a contention window range, for contending for access to the random resource units. The TBD parameter may directly impact the contention window size CWO or boundaries values of a selection range from which CWO is selected.

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 acknowledgment of or response to such transmissions can be efficiently performed. A response resource unit to be used within a MU transmission by the DiL/DL destination station to send a response to the (DiL/DL) data transmission may be signaled in the trigger frame triggering the DiL/DL transmissions in appropriate resource units.

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: The present disclosure provides a flow control valve for controlling the flow of a cleaning media, such as controlling the flow of cleaning media to a nozzle positioned to distribute the cleaning media to a vehicle surface. The nozzle is integrated with the flow control valve. Vehicles and systems incorporating a flow control valve are also provided.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication method in a wireless communication network comprising at least one network cell (BSS), each cell comprising at least one station (non-AP) managed by an access point (AP), the method comprising, at the access point: transmitting a Wake-Up radio (WUR) frame to at least one station of the network cell of the access point; transmitting a primary channel radio (PCR) frame including update information, the PCR frame being transmitted to said at least one station of the network cell of the access point.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to Direct Link (DiL) sessions in wireless networks, and more particularly to an efficient signaling of pairs of DiL-involved stations to control the latter. The present disclosure finds application in enhanced multi-user (MU) uplink (UL) protocols in wireless networks that allow non-UL transmissions to be performed simultaneously with triggered MU UL transmissions, as well as in station power saving management. As will be described in more detail herein, a station may send a trigger frame triggering MU transmissions with an appropriate signaling to allow non-UL transmissions, in particular DiL transmission to another triggered station, in a DiL resource unit of the MU transmission.

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: 802.11 ac 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 frames 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 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: In an 802.11ax network with an access point, a trigger frame offers random resource units to nodes for data uplink communication to the access point. To dynamically adapt the contention mechanism used by the nodes to access the random resource units, the AP updates a correcting TBD parameter at each new TXOP and includes the updated adjusting parameter in the trigger frame for the next TXOP. The nodes use the TBD parameter to generate a local random RU backoff value from a contention window range, for contending for access to the random resource units. The TBD parameter may directly impact the contention window size CWO or boundaries values of a selection range from which CWO is selected.

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 802.11 ax TRIGVECTOR to efficiently configure its PHY. On the other hand, the AP can configure its PHY to filter out the DiL/DL RUs.

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.

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: 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: The present invention provides according to one of its aspects a method of queueing a data frame in one of a plurality of traffic queues at a communication station for transmission over a communication channel in a communication network comprising a plurality stations and an access point (AP). The method comprising selecting a traffic queue based on at least one of 1) a transmission mode, direct link or uplink, of the data frame, and 2) a transmission mode of the traffic queue; and queueing the data frame in the selected traffic queue. The transmission mode of the traffic queue may be a Multi-User (MU) uplink (UL) mode if a data frame previously stored in the traffic queue has been transmitted, since a predetermined period of time, in a resource unit (RU) provided by the AP within a transmission opportunity granted to the AP on the communication channel. The transmission mode may also be a Single-User (SU) mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flow control valve for controlling the flow of a cleaning media, such as controlling the flow of cleaning media to a nozzle positioned to distribute the cleaning media to a vehicle surface. The flow control valve includes a plunger and a flexible diaphragm which operate to open and close the a fluid passage through the valve. Vehicles and systems incorporating a flow control valve are also provided.

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.