Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Rubayet Shafin

Boon Loong Ng

Peshal Nayak

Vishnu Vardhan Ratnam

Ahmed Atef Ibrahim Ibrahim

Hao Chen

Jianzhong Zhang

Wenxun Qiu

Yan Xin

Shiyang Leng

Junsu Choi

Young Han Nam

Mandar Narsinh Kulkarni

Rebal Al Jurdi

Samuel Albert

Vardhan Vishnu Ratnam

Loong Boon Ng

Atef Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) operation of multi-link devices (MLDs). A non-access point (AP) MLD comprises EMLMR STAs, each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, and a processor. Each link is configured to support a respective basic modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and number of spatial streams (NSS), and the links are EMLMR links configured to operate in an EMLMR mode of operation in which the EMLMR links support an enhanced MCS and NSS. A first of the EMLMR STAs, in the EMLMR mode of operation, is configured to conduct a first EMLMR frame exchange with a first of the APs over a first of the links. The processor is operably coupled to the EMLMR STAs, and configured to control a behavior of other EMLMR STAs on other EMLMR links during the first EMLMR frame exchange.

Method and apparatus for enhanced multi-link multi radio (EMLMR) operation

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating the coexistence of target wake time (TWT) and enhanced multi-link single radio EMLSR operations for multi-link devices (MLDs). A non-access point (AP) MLD comprises STAs, each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, and a processor. At least a subset of the links are EMLSR links. TWT schedules are established for communications on at least two of the EMLSR links, each having a TWT service period (SP). The processor is configured to determine whether there is an overlap between a first of the TWT SPs that corresponds to a first of the EMLSR links and other TWT SPs that correspond to other EMLSR links, based on the overlap existing, prioritize the first EMLSR link based on criteria related to each of the TWT schedules, and initiate a frame exchange on the prioritized EMLSR link.

Method and apparatus for enabling EMLSR operation with TWT over multiple links

A wireless communication network includes an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and a non-AP MLD. In an enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) mode, a non-AP MLD may sequentially transmit one or more TDLS discovery request frames to an AP MLD to discover a TDLS peer STA via different EMLMR links. The AP MLD may transmit an initial frame via an EMLMR link to trigger TDLS discovery request frame from the non-AP MLD.

TDLS discovery process for multi-link operation

Methods and apparatuses for enhancing advertisement of restricted target wake time (TWT) schedules by access points (APs) and improving selection of restricted TWT schedules by stations (STAs) in a wireless local area network. A wireless STA apparatus comprises a transceiver and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive, from an AP, a restricted TWT advertisement that includes a restricted TWT schedule and additional information about the restricted TWT schedule. The processor is configured to determine, based on the additional information, whether to refrain from requesting to become a member of the restricted TWT schedule.

Restricted TWT enhanced information advertisement procedure for next generation WLAN

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating enhanced channel quality measurements on links of a multi-link device (MLD) in a wireless local area network. A non-access point (AP) MLD comprises stations (STAs), each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP affiliated with an AP MLD and receive, over the link, a channel sounding signal. The non-AP MLD further comprises a processor configured to determine, based on the channel sounding signal received at a first time over a first one of the links, an initial channel quality indicator (CQI) value for the first link, and determine, based on interference caused on the first link by a second one of the links at a second time, a CQI offset value for the first link relative to the initial CQI value. The transceivers are configured to transmit, to the AP MLD, the initial CQI value and the CQI offset value.

CQI enhancement for multi-link operation

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating avoidance of NSTR constraint violation caused by TDLS channel switching and link enablement in multi-link operation (MLO) in a wireless local area network. The methods include determining to switch a frequency channel used by a first tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) direct link from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel, wherein the TDLS direct link is formed between a station (STA) of a non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and a corresponding peer STA, generating a TDLS channel switch notification message that includes an indication that the first TDLS direct link is switching from the first to the second frequency channel, and transmitting, to an AP MLD with which the non-AP MLD is associated, on an MLO link, the TDLS channel switch notification message, wherein MLO links are formed between STAs of the non-AP MLD and APs of the AP MLD.

Tunneled direct-link setup channel switching with non-simultaneous transmit and receive operation

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating mobile AP MLD operation. A method comprises determining whether a second AP operating on a non-primary link forms an NSTR link pair with a first AP operating on a primary link; determining whether a second STA operating on the non-primary link forms an NSTR pair with a first STA operating on the primary link; transmitting frames on the non-primary link without synchronizing PPDUs with a frame transmission on the primary link when: the second AP does not form the NSTR link pair with the first AP, and the second STA does not form the NSTR pair with the first STA; and transmitting frames on the non-primary link by synchronizing the PPDUs with the frame transmission on the primary link when: the second AP forms the NSTR link pair with the first AP, or the second STA forms the NSTR pair with the first STA.

Method and apparatus for mobile AP MLD operation

A non-access point (AP) MLD comprises STAs, each comprising a transceiver that forms a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, and a processor. A restricted TWT (R-TWT) schedule is established on a first link, and a first STA on that link is a member of an R-TWT service period (SP) on that link. A second STA on a second link is not a member of any R-TWT SP on that link that overlaps with the R-TWT SP on the first link. The processor transitions the non-AP MLD into EMLSR operation wherein the first and second links form an EMLSR link pair, determines that a transmission opportunity (TXOP) has begun on the second link, and coordinates between the STAs such that a frame exchange sequence with the AP MLD on the second link during the TXOP does not overlap with the R-TWT SP on the first link.

Restricted TWT with enhanced multi-link single radio (EMLSR) operation

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating the coexistence of enhanced multi-link single radio (EMLSR) operation with target wake time (TWT) operation in a wireless local area network. A non-access point (AP) MLD comprises STAs, each comprising a transceiver that forms a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, and a processor. A restricted TWT (R-TWT) schedule is established on a first link, and a first STA on that link is a member of an R-TWT service period (SP) on that link. A second STA on a second link is not a member of any R-TWT SP on that link that overlaps with the R-TWT SP on the first link. The processor transitions the non-AP MLD into EMLSR operation wherein the first and second links form an EMLSR link pair, determines that a transmission opportunity (TXOP) has begun on the second link, and coordinates between the STAs such that a frame exchange sequence with the AP MLD on the second link during the TXOP does not overlap with the R-TWT SP on the first link.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for balancing a tradeoff between channel utilization and fairness during restricted target wake time (TWT) operation in a wireless network. The apparatuses include a wireless station (STA) device comprising a transceiver and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver is configured to transmit latency-sensitive uplink traffic and receive latency-sensitive downlink traffic in a restricted TWT service period (SP) during restricted TWT operation, and to receive, from an access point (AP), an indication that the restricted TWT SP is terminated early based on a lack of latency-sensitive uplink traffic for transmission by the STA and a lack of latency-sensitive downlink traffic for reception by the STA in a remainder of the restricted TWT SP. The processor is configured to terminate operation of the restricted TWT SP by the STA.

Fairness for restricted TWT operation

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating multi-AP association on NSTR links. A method for wireless communication performed by a non-access point (AP) multi-band device (MBD), wherein the non-AP MBD comprises wireless stations (STAs), the method comprising: identifying, while a first STA of the STAs is associated with a first AP, that a second STA of the STAs is either associated or to be associated with a second AP; detecting a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) condition; when the second STA is to be associated with the second AP, determining whether an association procedure to associate the second STA with the second AP is to be initiated based on a first MBD transmission procedure; and when the second STA is associated with the second AP, generating an indication to initiate a second MBD transmission procedure.

Multi-AP association on NSTR links

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating quality of service traffic handling under NSTR constraints. A method of wireless communication performed by a non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) comprises: forming a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD; detecting a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) link pair; detecting that respective links of the NSTR link pair have transmit opportunity (TXOP) durations having different values; and managing communication on the respective links of the NSTR link pair based on access categories (ACs) to reduce interference between the respective links of the NSTR link pair.

Method and apparatus for quality of service traffic handling under NSTR constraints

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating the switching of an established target wake time (TWT) schedule from one link to another link of a multi-link device (MLD) in a wireless local area network. The apparatuses include an access point (AP) MLD comprising APs and a processor operably coupled to the APs. Each AP comprises a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding station (STA) affiliated with a non-AP MLD. The processor is configured to negotiate with the non-AP MLD via one of the APs to establish a TWT schedule for communications on a first one of the links, receive, from the non-AP MLD via one of the APs, a request to transfer the TWT schedule from the first link to a second one of the links, and in response to the request, establish the TWT schedule for communications on the second link.

TWT schedule switch operation for multi-link devices

Methods and apparatuses for facilitating notification of an impending TDLS transmission in a wireless local area network. The apparatuses include a non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) comprising stations (STAs) and a processor. Each STA comprises a transceiver configured to transceive signals on multi-link operation (MLO) links with APs of an AP MLD and on tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) direct links between the STAs and peer STAs of a second non-AP MLD, and to transmit, to the AP MLD on one of the MLO links, a TDLS transmission notification message. The processor is configured to determine that a TDLS transmission is impending over one of the TDLS direct links from one of the STAs that forms a non-simultaneous transmit/receive (NSTR) link pair with another STA, and to generate the TDLS transmission notification message, which includes an indication that the TDLS transmission is impending.

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Rubayet Shafin