Apple Inc.

Qi Wang

Yong Liu

Jinjing Jiang

Su Khiong Yong

Jarkko L Kneckt

Tianyu Wu

Lochan Verma

Christiaan A Hartman

Guoqing Li

Jarkko Lauri Sakari Kneckt

Anuj Batra

Yoel Boger

Ashirwad Bahukhandi

Daniel R Hennigan

Kai Min

Guoquing Li

Embodiments are disclosed for group cast with retries (GCR) in a multi-link wireless communications system. In some embodiments, an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) can exchange information with a non-AP MLD to establish a GCR-multi-link operation (MLO) agreement corresponding to a group address, wherein the information includes, but is not limited to: a GCR primary link or a GCR primary link set of the AP MLD, an association identifier (AID) that corresponds to the group address. In some embodiments, the AP MLD can transmit a GCR frame subject to the GCR-MLO agreement, where the GCR frame includes a sequence number assigned from sequence number space (SNS)_GCR_MLO defined at a MLD level, and generate a Group Temporal Key (GTK)_GCR_ML at the MLD level, where the GTK_GCR_ML enables encryption and decryption of the GCR frame.

Group cast with retries (GCR) for multi-link operation (MLO)

An electronic device (such as an access point) is described. This electronic device transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame to a recipient electronic device (such as a client or a station). The OFDMA frame includes multiple predefined resource units (RUs) allocated to the recipient electronic device in a set of predefined RUs having associated frequency bandwidths. Moreover, the multiple predefined RUs include two or more first predefined RUs having a first number of tones less than a predefined amount, or two or more second predefined RUs having a second number of tones greater than or equal to the predefined amount. For example, the predefined amount may include 242 tones. Note that the multiple predefined RUs may have the same or different numbers of tones. Moreover, the electronic may receive an acknowledgment or a block acknowledgment from the recipient electronic device.

Multi-resource-unit aggregation

Methods, systems and apparatuses for negotiating mapping between traffic flows and different links by an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and non-AP MLD are described. An AP MLD may transmit an initial request for a first limited mapping. A non-AP MLD may change to the first limited mapping. The non-AP MLD may register one or more high priority traffic flows and may change to a second mapping accommodating the high priority traffic flows on at least one additional link. The non-AP MLD and AP MLD may additionally exchange second and final mapping negotiation messages.

Link negotiation including priority traffic

Methods, systems and apparatuses for performing a channel switch by an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and non-AP MLD are described. An AP MLD may transmit information about parameters of an AP that will be implemented following an upcoming channel switch. The non-AP MLD may use the information to implement the channel switch.

Channel switching

Methods, systems and apparatuses for performing a channel validation by an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and non-AP MLD are described. An AP MLD may transmit information about multiple affiliated APs. A non-AP MLD and AP MLD may validate multiple links for communication.

Operating channel validation

Methods for performing robust discovery of a new access point (AP) in AP MLD, robust link addition to an AP MLD association, AP beaconing modes when the AP is added or deleted to/from an AP MLD, and robust BSS transition management (BTM) signaling to steer a non-AP MLD to a best AP MLD and to most suitable APs, as well as privacy improvements for associated non-AP MLD.

MLD privacy and operation enhancements

This disclosure relates to methods for conducting multilink communications between a user equipment device (UE) and a wireless access point (AP) over a wireless local area network (WLAN). The UE establishes a connection with an access point through a WLAN, wherein the connection utilizes a plurality of links. The UE transmits an indication to the access point through a first link of the plurality of links, where the indication specifies one or more available links of the plurality of links that are available for the UE to receive downlink (DL) communications from the access point. The UE receives one or more DL communications from the access point through at least one of the one or more available links.

Power savings for multi-link wireless local area network infrastructure

A method for communicating over a wireless network includes broadcasting, by a Multi-Link Device (MLD) device, service data indicative of one or more services for wireless communication with a client device; wherein the service data indicates that a service type is differentiated based on a type of the client device; establishing a security association with the client device; and in response to establishing a security association with the client device, granting access by the client device to a subset of the one or more services based on the type of the client device.

Systems and methods for multi-link device privacy protection

Embodiments may relate to group addressed frame delivery over multi-link systems. Systems and methods are configured for identifying, by an access point (AP) multilink device (MLD) in a wireless network, a first sequence number space (SNS) that is to be used by the AP MLD to transmit data to a non-AP MLD over a first communications link and a second communications link, wherein frames with identical data that are transmitted over the first and second communications links will have an identical first SN based on the first SNS; identifying, by the MLD in the wireless network, the first SN based on the first SNS; and transmitting, by the AP MLD in the wireless network, a frame that includes the data to the non-AP MLD based on the first SN.

Group addressed frame delivery over multi-link systems

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for high-bandwidth stations in a WiFi environment. In embodiments, a bandwidth of communications supported by the access point is divided into multiple frequency segments. In an embodiment, bandwidths up to 320 MHz are supported, which can be subdivided into four frequency segments of 80 MHz each. Different stations park on different frequency segments, whereas the access point has its primary channel located on the first frequency segment. With this configuration, uplink and downlink channel access can be provided to the different stations using a primary channel hopping pattern, which is provided to the stations from the AP. This pattern provides time windows for each frequency segment, during which the stations in that segment are able to freely communicate. Several other aspects of the disclosure further support this configuration and other high-bandwidth configurations.

System and method for supporting operating stations on an extreme high throughput link

Some aspects of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for implementing a hibernation mode for multi-link wireless communication networks such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). For example, some aspects relate to a multi-link device (MLD) including a first station (STA) associated with a first link of a wireless network and configured to communicate with a second MLD over the first link. The MLD also includes a second STA associated with a second link of the wireless network. The second STA is in a hibernation mode. The MLD also includes one or more processors communicatively coupled to the first and second STAs and configured to control operations of the first and second STAs.

Multi-link hibernation mode for WLAN

A camera may include a substrate for placing components. An image sensor having a light-receiving side and an opposite non-light-receiving side may be attached to a first side of the substrate to receive light from one or more lenses of the camera to capture an image. The camera may also include one or more additional components separate and distinct from the image sensor. The additional components may be placed beneath the non-light-receiving side of the image sensor. The components may be attached to a second side of the substrate opposite the first side where the image sensor is mounted at least partially inside one or more recesses, or embedded at least partially inside the substrate.

Substrate to place components for camera size reduction

During operation, an electronic device (e.g., an access point) may provide a multi-user (MU)-request-to-send (RTS) frame that communicates an RTS in a channel associated with the second electronic device and a second RTS in a second channel associated with a third electronic device. For example, the channel may include a primary channel and the second channel may include a secondary channel. Note that the third electronic device may include a SST station and the second electronic device may include a non-SST station. Then, the electronic device may receive an MU-clear-to-send (CTS) frame that includes a CTS in a third channel associated with the third electronic device. Moreover, the third channel may be equal to or a subset of the second channel, and/or the third channel may include a CTS reception channel associated with the electronic device.

Multi-user-RTS and CTS frames for a sub-channel selective transmission station

Some aspects of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for implementing request to send (RTS) and clear to transmit (CTS) frames and transmission rules for the RTS and CTS frame. For example, some aspects relate to an electronic device including a transceiver and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The one or more processors receive, using the transceiver, a request to send (RTS) frame from the second electronic device and determine, using the received RTS frame, a format for a clear to send (CTS) frame to use in response to the RTS frame. The one or more processors further transmit, using the transceiver, the CTS frame based on the determined format on at least one sub-channel on which the RTS frame was received and that the at least one sub-channel is idle.

Request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) frames and transmission rules

During operation, an electronic device may encrypt an A-control subfield. Then, the electronic device may provide the frame addressed to a second electronic device, where the frame includes a media access control (MAC) header and the MAC header includes the A-control subfield that is encrypted. Note that the encrypted A-control subfield may be jointly encrypted with data in a payload in the frame. Moreover, the encrypted A-control subfield may be separated from the payload in the frame by one or more additional subfields or may be adjacent to the payload in the frame. Furthermore, the MAC header may include an indicator that indicates whether the A-control subfield is encrypted. Additionally, the frame may include a preamble that indicates whether the A-control subfield is encrypted. The frame may be received by the second electronic device. After receiving the frame, the second electronic device may decrypt the A-control subfield.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Qi Wang