60 ghz operating mode for wireless local area networks (wlans)

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for increasing carrier frequencies for wireless communications in wireless local area networks (WLANs). Some implementations more specifically relate to BSS discovery and association techniques that support wireless communications on carrier frequencies above 7 GHz. In some aspects, an access point (AP) may communicate using beamforming on a wireless communication link operating at a carrier frequency above 7 GHz (the 'directional link') while offloading the BSS discovery and association procedures needed to support such communications onto a wireless communication link operating at a carrier frequency below 7 GHz (the “anchor link”). In some implementations, the AP may perform a beamforming training operation with a STA over the directional link upon associating with the STA over the anchor link. In such implementations, the AP may communicate with the STA over the directional link using a beam derived from the beamforming training operation.