Energy saving and group-addressed frames in WLAN using several communication links

Abstract

The first communication device determines whether the second communication device is in an energy-saving mode for a first communication link among a plurality of communication links corresponding to a corresponding frequency segment, and determines whether the second communication device is in an energy-saving mode for a second communication link among a plurality of communication links. When the second communication device is not in an energy-saving mode for the first communication link, the second communication device is allowed to be in an energy-saving mode for the second communication link, and vice versa. The first communication device communicates with the second communication device according to the energy-saving mode of the second communication device for the first communication link and the second communication link.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 852,612, filed on May 24, 2019, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation–Power Save and TWT,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 879,801, filed on July 29, 2019, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation–Power Save and TWT,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 886,812, filed on August 14, 2019, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation–Power Save and TWT,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 888,950, filed on August 19, 2019, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation–Power Save and TWT,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 889,964, filed on September 6, 2019, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation–Power Save and TWT,” Set (BSS) with Band Aggregation-Power Save and TWT" U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 897,155. All of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to packet transmission and power-saving operation in a wireless local area network (WLAN) utilizing several communication links in respective frequency bands. Background Art

[0004] Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have developed rapidly over the past two decades, and the development of WLAN standards such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards has increased single-user peak data rates. One way to increase data rates is to increase the frequency bandwidth of the communication channels used in WLANs. For example, the IEEE 802.11n standard allows aggregation of two 20MHz subchannels to form an aggregated communication channel of 40MHz, while the newer IEEE 802.11ax standard allows aggregation of up to 8 20MHz subchannels to form an aggregated communication channel of up to 160MHz. Work on a new iteration of the IEEE 802.11 standard has now begun, which is referred to as the IEEE 802.11be standard, or extremely high throughput (EHT) WLAN. The IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of up to 16 20MHz subchannels (or possibly more) to form an aggregated communication channel of up to 320MHz (or possibly even wider aggregated communication channels). In addition, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of 20 MHz sub-channels in different frequency segments (e.g., separated by a frequency gap) to form a corresponding communication link. In addition, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of 20 MHz sub-channels of different radio frequency (RF) bands to form a single aggregate channel, or may allow aggregation of 20 MHz sub-channels of different RF bands to form a corresponding communication link.

[0005] The current IEEE 802.11 standard (referred to herein for simplicity as the "IEEE 802.11 standard") provides for a first communication device to transmit packets to a second communication device via a single communication channel. The IEEE 802.11 standard also provides a mechanism for a device to enter a power saving mode and receive packets via a single communication channel while in the power saving mode. Summary of the invention

[0006] In one embodiment, a method for communicating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) utilizes multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency bands. The method includes: determining, at a first communication device, whether a second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a first WLAN communication link among a plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state; determining, at the first communication device, whether a second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a second WLAN communication link among a plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state, wherein when the second communication device is not in the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, the second communication device is allowed to be in the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, and wherein when the second communication device is not in the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, the second communication device is allowed to be in the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and communicating with the second communication device by the first communication device through at least one of i) the first WLAN communication link and ii) the second WLAN communication link, including communicating with the second communication device according to the following items: i) determining whether the second communication device is in the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) determining whether the second communication device is in the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0007] In another embodiment, a first communication device includes a wireless network interface device configured to communicate via multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency bands. The wireless network interface device includes one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to: determine whether a second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a first WLAN communication link among the multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state; determine whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a second WLAN communication link among the multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state, wherein whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link is independent of whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and communicate with the second communication device through at least one of i) the first WLAN communication link and ii) the second WLAN communication link, including communicating with the second communication device according to the following: i) determining whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) determining whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, a method for communicating in a WLAN utilizes multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency segments. The method includes: negotiating a first target wake time (TWT) protocol by a first communication device and a second communication device, including negotiating i) a first time period of a TWT service period (SP) of the first TWT protocol and ii) a first duration of each TWT SP of the first TWT protocol, the first TWT protocol being used for a first WLAN communication link among multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the TWT SP of the first TWT protocol corresponds to a time segment during which the second communication device will be in a wake-up state associated with the first WLAN communication link; negotiating a second TWT protocol by the first communication device and the second communication device, including negotiating i) a second time period of the TWT SP of the second TWT protocol and ii) a second duration of each TWT SP of the second TWT protocol, the second TWT protocol being used for a second WLAN communication link, wherein the TWT SP of the second TWT protocol corresponds to a time segment during which the second communication device will be in a wake-up state associated with the second WLAN communication link, and wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: i) allowing the first duration to be different from the second duration, and ii) allowing the first time period to be different from the second time period; communicating with the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link according to the first TWT protocol; and communicating with the second communication device via the second WLAN communication link according to the second TWT protocol.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, a first communication device includes a wireless network interface device configured to communicate via a plurality of WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency bands. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to: negotiate a first TWT protocol with a second communication device, including: negotiate i) a first time period of a TWT SP of the first TWT protocol and ii) a first duration of each TWT SP of the first TWT protocol, the first TWT protocol is used for a first WLAN communication link among multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the TWT SP of the first TWT protocol corresponds to a time segment during which the second communication device will be in a wake-up state associated with the first WLAN communication link; negotiate a second TWT protocol with the second communication device, including negotiate i) a second time period of a TWT SP of the second TWT protocol and ii) a second duration of each TWT SP of the second TWT protocol, the second TWT protocol is used for a second WLAN communication link, wherein the TWT SP of the second TWT protocol corresponds to a time segment during which the second communication device will be in a wake-up state associated with the second WLAN communication link, and wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: i) allowing the first time period to be different from the second time period, and ii) allowing the first duration to be different from the second duration; communicate with the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link according to the first TWT protocol; and communicate with the second communication device via the second WLAN communication link according to the second TWT protocol.

[0010] In another embodiment, a method for transmitting a service flow in a WLAN that utilizes multiple WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment. The method includes: determining at a first communication device whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with a second communication device for a first service flow; in response to determining that a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first service flow, transmitting packets in the first service flow by the first communication device only via the specific WLAN communication link; and in response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first service flow, transmitting packets in the first service flow by the first communication device via several WLAN communication links.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, a first communication device includes a wireless network interface device configured to communicate via multiple WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to: determine whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with a second communication device for a first service flow; in response to determining that a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first service flow, transmit packets in the first service flow only via the specific WLAN communication link; and in response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first service flow, transmit packets in the first service flow via several WLAN communication links.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, a method for transmitting a group-addressed frame in a WLAN that utilizes multiple WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment. The method includes: determining at a first communication device whether the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links of the multiple WLAN communication links, the group-addressed frame being intended for multiple second communication devices in the WLAN; in response to determining that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links, transmitting by the first communication device several instances of the group-addressed frame via corresponding WLAN communication links of the several WLAN communication links, including: transmitting a first instance of the group-addressed frame via a first WLAN communication link of the multiple WLAN communication links, the first instance of the group-addressed frame having a sequence number set to a certain value, and transmitting a second instance of the group-addressed frame via a second WLAN communication link of the multiple WLAN communication links, the second instance of the group-addressed frame having a sequence number set to the value; and in response to determining that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via only a single WLAN communication link of the multiple WLAN communication links, transmitting by the first communication device only the single WLAN communication link of the group-addressed frame.

[0013] In another embodiment, a first communication device includes: a wireless network interface device configured to communicate via multiple WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, the one or more IC devices configured to: determine whether a group-addressed frame will be transmitted via several WLAN communication links in the multiple WLAN communication links, the group-addressed frame is intended for multiple second communication devices in the WLAN; and in response to determining that the group-addressed frame will be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links, transmit several instances of the group-addressed frame via corresponding WLAN communication links in the several WLAN communication links, including: transmitting a first instance of the group-addressed frame via a first WLAN communication link in the multiple WLAN communication links, the first instance of the group-addressed frame having a sequence number set to a certain value, and transmitting a second instance of the group-addressed frame via a second WLAN communication link in the multiple WLAN communication links, the second instance of the group-addressed frame having a sequence number set to the value. The one or more IC devices are also configured to: in response to determining that the group-addressed frame will be transmitted via only a single WLAN communication link in the multiple WLAN communication links, transmit the group-addressed frame only via the single WLAN communication link. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example communication system in which communication devices wirelessly exchange information via several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments, according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2A According to the embodiment, Figure 1 A diagram of an example communication channel used by a communication system of FIG. 1 , the communication channel having several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments.

[0016] Figure 2B According to the embodiment, Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram of another example communication channel used by a communication system of FIG. 1 , the communication channel having several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments.

[0017] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an example wireless network interface device configured to communicate via several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 is a flow chart of an example method for transmitting traffic flows in a WLAN utilizing multiple communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a group-addressed frame transmitted via several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 is a flow chart of an example method for transmitting a group addressed frame in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 7 is a flow chart of an example method for processing, at a receiver device, group-addressed frames transmitted in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in corresponding frequency segments, according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 8 is a diagram of an example communication exchange between an access point (AP) and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments, according to an embodiment.

[0023] Fig. 9 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0024] Fig.10 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0025] Fig.11 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0026] Fig.12 is a flow chart of an example method for communicating via several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments, according to an embodiment.

[0027] Fig.13 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0028] Fig.14 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0029] Fig.15 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0030] Fig.16 is a diagram of another example communication exchange between an AP and a client station in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0031] Fig.17 is a diagram of an example transmission of a beacon frame in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in respective frequency segments according to an embodiment.

[0032] Fig.18 is a diagram of another example transmission of a beacon frame in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0033] Fig.19 is a diagram of another example transmission of a beacon frame in a wireless communication network utilizing multiple communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to another embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 20 is a flow chart of an example method for a first communication device to notify a second communication device whether the first communication device has buffered frames for the second communication device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Next generation wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., the IEEE 802.11be standard, sometimes referred to as the Extremely High Throughput (EHT) WLAN standard) may allow aggregation of up to 16 (or even more) 20 MHz subchannels to form an aggregate communication channel of 320 MHz (or possibly even wider aggregate communication channels). In addition, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of 20 MHz subchannels in different frequency segments (e.g., separated by frequency gaps) to form corresponding communication links. In addition, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow formation of several WLAN communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments. Several WLAN communication links may be used to transmit / receive different information simultaneously.

[0036] In some embodiments, a communication device is allowed to operate in an energy saving mode with respect to a first communication link of a plurality of communication links corresponding to a corresponding frequency segment, regardless of whether the communication device operates in an energy saving mode with respect to a second communication link of the plurality of communication links, and vice versa. According to some embodiments, this provides flexibility for communication devices in a WLAN in terms of communicating and saving power in the WLAN. In some embodiments, this provides flexibility for an access point (AP) of the WLAN in terms of improving throughput and / or congestion, because the AP can request different client stations to enter an energy saving mode with respect to different communication links, for example to reduce contention between client stations for the WLAN communication link.

[0037] In some embodiments, a communication device in a WLAN may negotiate a first target wake time (TWT) protocol for a first WLAN communication link among a plurality of WLAN communication links, independently of negotiating a second TWT protocol for a second WLAN communication link. According to some embodiments, this provides flexibility for communication devices in a WLAN in terms of saving power. In some embodiments, this provides flexibility for an AP in terms of improving throughput and / or congestion, because the AP may schedule different client stations to enter a low power state with respect to different communication links, for example, to reduce contention between client stations for the WLAN communication link.

[0038] In some embodiments, the AP can negotiate with the client station to select a specific communication link for transmitting a specific type of traffic with different quality of service requirements, and / or have the flexibility to transmit some types of traffic via any of the communication links. In some embodiments, this provides flexibility to the AP in terms of improving throughput and / or congestion, because the AP can, for example, reserve a first communication link for certain types of traffic and / or transmit certain types of traffic via any communication link.

[0039] In some embodiments, the AP may transmit the group-addressed frame via one communication link and / or several communication links. In some embodiments, this provides flexibility to the AP in improving throughput, congestion, and / or power consumption in the WLAN because, for example, when all intended receivers can receive via one communication link, the AP may choose to transmit the group-addressed frame via only one communication link, and when all intended receivers cannot receive via only one communication link, the AP may choose to transmit the group-addressed frame via several communication links.

[0040] Figure 1 1 is a diagram of an example WLAN 110 that uses several communication links in several frequency segments or in different radio frequency (RF) bands, according to an embodiment. WLAN 110 includes an access point (AP) 114, which includes a host processor 118 coupled to a wireless network interface device 122. Wireless network interface device 122 includes one or more media access control (MAC) processors 126 (sometimes referred to herein as "MAC processor 126" for brevity) and one or more PHY processors 130 (sometimes referred to herein as "PHY processor 130" for brevity). PHY processor 130 includes multiple transceivers 134, and transceivers 134 are coupled to multiple antennas 138. Although Figure 11 and 2. Three transceivers 134 and three antennas 138 are shown in FIG. 1 , but in other embodiments, AP 114 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 134 and antennas 138. In some embodiments, AP 114 includes a greater number of antennas 138 than transceivers 134, and antenna switching techniques are utilized.

[0041] In one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 is configured to operate within a single RF frequency band at a given time. In one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 is configured to communicate simultaneously via several communication links in corresponding frequency segments within a single RF frequency band, and / or to communicate via several communication links at different times. In another embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 is additionally configured to operate within two or more RF frequency bands simultaneously or at different times. For example, in one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 is configured to communicate simultaneously via several communication links in corresponding RF frequency bands, and / or to communicate via several communication links at different times. In one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 includes several PHY processors 130, wherein the corresponding PHY processor 130 corresponds to the corresponding RF frequency band. In another embodiment, the wireless network interface device 122 includes a single PHY processor 130, wherein each transceiver 134 includes a corresponding RF radio corresponding to the corresponding RF frequency band.

[0042] The wireless network interface device 122 is implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs) configured to operate as described below. For example, the MAC processor 126 can be implemented at least in part on a first IC, and the PHY processor 130 can be implemented at least in part on a second IC. For example, in various embodiments, the first IC and the second IC can be packaged together in a single IC package to form a modular device, or the first IC and the second IC can be coupled together on a single printed board. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130 can be implemented on a single IC. For example, the wireless network interface device 122 can be implemented using a system on chip (SoC), wherein the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130.

[0043] In one embodiment, the host processor 118 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, the host processor 118 can be implemented at least in part on a first IC, and the network device 122 can be implemented at least in part on a second IC. As another example, the host processor 118 and at least a portion of the wireless network interface device 122 can be implemented on a single IC.

[0044] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 and / or the PHY processor 130 of the AP 114 are configured to generate data units that comply with a WLAN communication protocol (such as a communication protocol that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard or other suitable wireless communication protocols) and process received data units. For example, the MAC processor 126 can be configured to implement MAC layer functions, including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 130 can be configured to implement PHY functions, including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 126 is configured to generate MAC layer data units such as MAC service data units (MSDUs), MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 130. In addition, for example, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to select a communication link via which the MAC layer data unit should be transmitted and control the PHY processor 130 so that the MAC layer data unit is transmitted in the selected communication link. In addition, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to determine when the corresponding communication link is idle and available for transmission and control the PHY processor 130 so that the MAC layer data unit is transmitted when the corresponding communication link is idle. In addition, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to determine when the client station is in a sleep state and is therefore unable to transmit or receive. For example, according to some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to negotiate with the client station a schedule regarding when the client station is allowed to be in a sleep state and when the client station should be in an awake state and available for transmission to or reception from the AP 114.

[0045] The PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive MAC layer data units from the MAC processor 126 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units to generate PHY data units such as PHY protocol data units (PPDUs) for transmission via the antenna 138. Similarly, the PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive PHY data units received via the antenna 138 and extract the MAC layer data units encapsulated within the PHY data units. The PHY processor 130 may provide the extracted MAC layer data units to the MAC processor 126, which processes the MAC layer data units.

[0046] PHY data units are sometimes referred to herein as "packets," and MAC layer data units are sometimes referred to herein as "frames."

[0047] According to one embodiment, in connection with generating one or more RF signals for transmission, the PHY processor 130 is configured to process (which may include modulation, filtering, etc.) data corresponding to the PPDU to generate one or more digital baseband signals, and convert the (multiple) digital baseband signals to one or more analog baseband signals. In addition, the PHY processor 130 is configured to up-convert the one or more analog baseband signals to one or more RF signals for transmission via one or more antennas 138.

[0048] In connection with receiving one or more RF signals, the PHY processor 130 is configured to down-convert the one or more RF signals into one or more analog baseband signals and convert the one or more analog baseband signals into one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 130 is also configured to process (which may include demodulation, filtering, etc.) the one or more digital baseband signals to generate a PPDU.

[0049] In various embodiments, the PHY processor 130 includes an amplifier (e.g., a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier, etc.), an RF downconverter, an RF upconverter, multiple filters, one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs), one or more discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculators (e.g., a fast Fourier transform (FFT) calculator), one or more inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) calculators (e.g., an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) calculator), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, etc.

[0050] The PHY processor 130 is configured to generate one or more RF signals, which are provided to the one or more antennas 138. The PHY processor 130 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 138.

[0051] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to control the PHY processor 130 to generate one or more RF signals, for example, by providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 130 and optionally providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor 130. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 126 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a RAM, a read-only ROM, a flash memory, etc. In other embodiments, the MAC processor 126 additionally or alternatively includes one or more hardware state machines.

[0052] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 includes or implements a communication link selection controller 140, which is configured to select a communication link via which a MAC layer data unit should be transmitted. For example, according to one embodiment, when the client station is configured to communicate via several communication links in a corresponding frequency segment, the communication link selection controller 140 selects one of the communication links for one or more MAC layer data units to be used for sending the one or more MAC layer data units. As another example, according to one embodiment, for a group-addressed MAC layer data unit (e.g., a MAC layer data unit whose receiver address is set to a multicast address or a broadcast address), the communication link selection controller 140 selects one or several communication links in the communication link for the group-addressed MAC to be used for sending the group-addressed MAC layer data unit.

[0053] In one embodiment, the communication link selection controller 140 is implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory, wherein the machine-readable instructions cause the processor to perform actions described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the communication link selection controller 140 additionally or alternatively includes a hardware circuit system configured to perform the actions described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the hardware circuit system includes one or more hardware state machines configured to perform the actions described in more detail below.

[0054] Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 includes or implements a client power save (PS) controller 142, the PS controller 142 being configured to i) determine a PS-related state of a client station with respect to a number of communication links, ii) negotiate a PS-related schedule of the client station with respect to the number of communication links, and / or iii) control the generation of frames in relation to the PS-related schedule. For example, according to one embodiment, when the client station is configured to communicate via a number of communication links in a corresponding frequency segment, the client PS controller 142 is configured to determine a PS-related state of the client station corresponding to the corresponding communication link. As another example, according to one embodiment, when the client station is configured to communicate via a number of communication links in a corresponding frequency segment, the client PS controller 142 negotiates a PS-related schedule with the client station for the corresponding communication link.

[0055] In one embodiment, the client PS controller 142 is implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory, wherein the machine-readable instructions cause the processor to perform actions described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the client PS controller 142 additionally or alternatively includes a hardware circuit system configured to perform the actions described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the hardware circuit system includes one or more hardware state machines configured to perform the actions described in more detail below.

[0056] In other embodiments, the communication link controller 140 and / or the client PS controller 142 are omitted from the AP 114.

[0057] WLAN 110 also includes a plurality of client stations 154. Figure 1 1 , three client stations 154 are shown, but in various embodiments, WLAN 110 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, etc.) of client stations 154. Client station 154-1 includes a host processor 158 coupled to a wireless network interface device 162. Wireless network interface device 162 includes one or more MAC processors 166 (sometimes referred to herein as "MAC processor 166" for brevity) and one or more PHY processors 170 (sometimes referred to herein as "PHY processor 170" for brevity). PHY processor 170 includes multiple transceivers 174, and transceivers 174 are coupled to multiple antennas 178. Although Figure 1 1 and 2. Three transceivers 174 and three antennas 178 are shown, but in other embodiments, the client station 154-1 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 174 and antennas 178. In some embodiments, the client station 154-1 includes a greater number of antennas 178 than transceivers 174, and antenna switching techniques are utilized.

[0058] In one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 is configured to operate within a single RF band at a given time. In another embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 is configured to operate within two or more RF bands simultaneously or at different times. For example, in one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 includes a number of PHY processors 170, wherein a respective PHY processor 170 corresponds to a respective RF band. In another embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 includes a single PHY processor 170, wherein each transceiver 174 includes a respective RF radio corresponding to a respective RF band. In one embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 includes a number of MAC processors 166, wherein a respective MAC processor 166 corresponds to a respective RF band. In another embodiment, the wireless network interface device 162 includes a single MAC processor 166 corresponding to a number of RF bands.

[0059] The wireless network interface device 162 is implemented using one or more ICs configured to operate as described below. For example, the MAC processor 166 can be implemented on at least a first IC, and the PHY processor 170 can be implemented on at least a second IC. For example, in various embodiments, the first IC and the second IC can be packaged together in a single IC package to form a modular device, or the first IC and the second IC can be coupled together on a single printed board. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170 can be implemented on a single IC. For example, the wireless network interface device 162 can be implemented using a SoC, wherein the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170.

[0060] In one embodiment, host processor 158 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown) such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, host processor network device 162 may be implemented at least in part on a first IC, and network device 162 may be implemented at least in part on a second IC. As another example, host processor 158, and at least a portion of wireless network interface device 162 may be implemented on a single IC.

[0061] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 166 and the PHY processor 170 of the client station 154-1 are configured to generate data units that conform to the WLAN communication protocol or another suitable communication protocol and process the received data units. For example, the MAC processor 166 can be configured to implement MAC layer functions, including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 170 can be configured to implement PHY functions, including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. The MAC processor 166 can be configured to generate MAC layer data units such as MSDU, MPDU, etc., and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 170. In addition, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to: select a communication link via which the MAC layer data unit should be transmitted, and control the PHY processor 170 so that the MAC layer data unit is transmitted in the selected communication link. In addition, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to determine when the corresponding communication link is idle and available for transmission and control the PHY processor 170 so that the MAC layer data unit is transmitted when the corresponding communication link is idle. Additionally, in some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to control when portions of the wireless network interface device 162 are in a sleep state or awake state, e.g., to conserve power. For example, according to some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to negotiate with the AP 114 a schedule regarding when the client station 154-1 is allowed to be in a sleep state and when the client station 154-1 should be in an awake state and available to transmit to or receive from the AP 114.

[0062] The PHY processor 170 may be configured to receive MAC layer data units from the MAC processor 166 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units to generate PHY data units such as PPDUs for transmission via the antenna 178. Similarly, the PHY processor 170 may be configured to receive PHY data units received via the antenna 178 and extract the MAC layer data units encapsulated within the PHY data units. The PHY processor 170 may provide the extracted MAC layer data units to the MAC processor 166, which processes the MAC layer data units.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the PHY processor 170 is configured to down-convert one or more RF signals received via one or more antennas 178 into one or more baseband analog signals, and convert (multiple) analog baseband signals into one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 170 is also configured to process one or more digital baseband signals to demodulate one or more digital baseband signals and generate a PPDU. The PHY processor 170 includes an amplifier (e.g., LNA, power amplifier, etc.), an RF down-converter, an RF up-converter, multiple filters, one or more ADCs, one or more DACs, one or more DFT calculators (e.g., FFT calculators), one or more IDFT calculators (e.g., IFFT calculators), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, etc.

[0064] The PHY processor 170 is configured to generate one or more RF signals, which are provided to one or more antennas 178. The PHY processor 170 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 178.

[0065] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to control the PHY processor 170 to generate one or more RF signals, for example, by providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 170 and optionally providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor 170. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 166 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 166 includes a hardware state machine.

[0066] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 includes or implements a communication link selection controller 190, which is configured to select a communication link via which a MAC layer data unit should be transmitted. For example, according to one embodiment, the communication link selection controller 190 selects one of the communication links for one or more MAC layer data units to be used for sending the one or more MAC layer data units.

[0067] In one embodiment, the communication link selection controller 190 is implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory, wherein the machine-readable instructions cause the processor to perform actions described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the communication link selection controller 190 additionally or alternatively includes a hardware circuit system configured to perform the actions described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the hardware circuit system includes one or more hardware state machines configured to perform the actions described in more detail below.

[0068] Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 includes or implements a PS controller 192 that is configured to i) determine a PS-related state of the wireless network interface device 162 with respect to a number of communication links, ii) negotiate a PS-related schedule for the client station 154-1 with respect to the number of communication links, and / or iii) control the generation of frames in relation to the PS-related schedule. For example, according to one embodiment, the client PS controller 192 negotiates a PS-related schedule with the AP 114 for the respective communication links.

[0069] In one embodiment, the client PS controller 192 is implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory, wherein the machine-readable instructions cause the processor to perform actions described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the client PS controller 192 additionally or alternatively includes a hardware circuit system configured to perform the actions described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the hardware circuit system includes one or more hardware state machines configured to perform the actions described in more detail below.

[0070] In other embodiments, the communication link controller 190 and / or the client PS controller 192 are omitted from the client station 154-1.

[0071] In one embodiment, each of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or similar structure as client station 154-1. In one embodiment, one or more of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has a suitable structure different from client station 154-1. Each of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or different number of transceivers and antennas. For example, according to one embodiment, client station 154-2 and / or client station 154-3 each has only two transceivers and two antennas (not shown).

[0072] Figure 2A According to the embodiment Figure 1 1 is a diagram of an example operating channel 200 for use in a communication system 110 of FIG. The operating channel 200 includes a plurality of subchannels 204 in a first frequency segment 208 and a plurality of subchannels 212 in a second frequency segment 216. The operating channel 200 spans an overall bandwidth 220. In one embodiment, the first segment 208 and the second segment 216 are within the same radio frequency (RF) band.

[0073] In other embodiments, the first segment 208 and the second segment 216 are in different RF bands. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now allows wireless local area networks (WLANs) to operate in several RF bands, such as the 2.4 GHz band (approximately 2.4 to 2.5 GHz) and the 5 GHz band (approximately 5.170 to 5.835 GHz). Recently, the FCC proposed that WLANs may also operate in the 6 GHz band (5.925 to 7.125 GHz). Regulatory agencies in other countries / regions also allow WLAN operations in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and are considering allowing WLAN operations in the 6 GHz band. Future WLAN protocols currently under development may allow multi-band operations, where a WLAN may use spectrum in several RF bands simultaneously.

[0074] In some embodiments, the first frequency segment 208 is used as a first communication link and the second frequency segment 216 is used as a second communication link, wherein the first communication link and the second communication link are used for simultaneous transmission.

[0075] In one embodiment, each of the subchannels 204 / 212 spans 20 MHz. Figure 2A As shown, the first segment 208 spans 160 MHz and the second segment 216 spans 80 MHz. In other embodiments, the first frequency segment 208 includes another suitable number of subchannels 204 (e.g., 1, 2, 4, etc.) and spans another suitable bandwidth, such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, etc., and / or the second frequency segment 216 includes another suitable number of subchannels 212 (e.g., 1, 2, 8, etc.) and spans another suitable bandwidth, such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 160 MHz, etc.

[0076] One subchannel 204-1 in the first frequency segment 208 is designated as a primary subchannel and the other subchannels 204 / 212 are designated as secondary subchannels. According to some embodiments, control and / or management frames are transmitted in the primary subchannel 204-1. In some embodiments, according to some embodiments, the primary subchannel must be idle in order for any of the subchannels 204 / 212 to be used for transmission. In some embodiments, subchannel 212 in the second frequency segment 216 is also designated as a primary subchannel (not shown). In some embodiments in which the second frequency segment 216 also includes a primary subchannel, at least in some scenarios, the control and / or management frames are transmitted additionally or alternatively in the primary subchannel of the second frequency segment 216. In other embodiments, the control and / or management frames are transmitted only in the primary subchannel 204-1 of the first frequency segment 208.

[0077] In some embodiments where the second frequency segment 216 also includes primary subchannels, according to some embodiments, the primary subchannel 204-1 of the first frequency segment 208 must be idle in order for any of the subchannels 204 to be used for transmission and the primary subchannel of the second frequency segment 216 must be idle in order for any of the subchannels 212 to be used for transmission. In other embodiments, one or more of the secondary subchannels 204 may be used for transmission even when the primary subchannel 204-1 is not idle, and / or according to some embodiments, one or more of the secondary subchannels 212 may be used for transmission even when the primary subchannel of the second frequency segment 216 is not idle.

[0078] In other embodiments, no subchannel 212 in the second segment 216 is designated as a primary subchannel.

[0079] Figure 2B According to another embodiment Figure 1 FIG. 2 is a diagram of another example operating channel 250 used in the communication system 110 of FIG. The operating channel 250 is similar to Figure 2A 200, and for the sake of brevity, the same numbered elements are not described in detail. In the example operating channel 250, the first frequency segment 208 and the second frequency segment 216 are separated by a frequency gap 254. In some embodiments, the first frequency segment 208 and the second frequency segment 216 are in the same RF frequency band. In other embodiments, the first frequency segment 208 and the second frequency segment 216 are in different RF frequency bands.

[0080] Reference now Figure 2A and 2B According to some embodiments, one or more of the subchannels 204 / 212 are "punctured" ( Figure 2A and 2B Not shown, for example, there is no transmission within the "punctured" sub-channel).

[0081] although Figure 2A The example operating channels 200 and 250 of -B are shown as including two frequency segments 208 / 216, but other suitable operating channels include three or more frequency segments (e.g., including a third frequency segment, including a third frequency segment and a fourth frequency segment, etc.). In some embodiments, similar to gap 254, the third frequency segment is separated from the second frequency segment 216 by a specific frequency gap, and there is no transmission in the gap, similar to gap 254. In some embodiments, the third frequency segment is continuous in frequency with the second frequency segment 216.

[0082] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2A - The corresponding frequency segments shown in B are associated with different MAC addresses. For example, in an embodiment in which the corresponding frequency bands are used as corresponding communication links, the corresponding communication links correspond to different MAC addresses.

[0083] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example network interface device 300 configured for simultaneous communication via several communication links in corresponding frequency bands according to an embodiment. The network interface device 300 is an embodiment of the network interface device 122 of the AP 114 of FIG. Figure 1 In other embodiments, the network interface device 122 and / or the network interface device 162 have a suitable structure different from the network interface device 300. In addition, in some embodiments, the network interface device 300 is used in a different Figure 1 another suitable communication device of the communication device of the present invention, and / or for use in a communication device with Figure 1 to another suitable wireless network that is different from the wireless network used.

[0084] In the illustrated embodiment, the network interface device 300 is configured for simultaneous communication via a first communication link in a first frequency band and a second communication link in a second frequency band.

[0085] The network interface device 300 includes a MAC processor 304 coupled to a PHY processor 308. The MAC processor 304 exchanges frames (or PSDUs) with the PHY processor 308.

[0086] In one embodiment, MAC processor 304 corresponds to Figure 1 In another embodiment, the MAC processor 304 corresponds to Figure 1 MAC processor 166. In one embodiment, PHY processor 308 corresponds to Figure 1 In another embodiment, the PHY processor 308 corresponds to one or more PHY processors 130. Figure 1 One or more PHY processors 170.

[0087] The MAC processor 304 includes common MAC logic 312 and link-specific (LS) MAC logic 316. The common MAC logic 312 generally implements MAC layer functions that are common to several communication links. For example, the common MAC logic 312 is configured to encapsulate data (e.g., received from a host processor (not shown)) in MAC layer data units such as MSDUs, MPDUs, aggregated MPDUs (A-MPDUs), etc. for transmission via several communication links, and decapsulate data from MSDUs, MPDUs, A-MPDUs, etc. received via several communication links. In addition, in some embodiments, the common MAC logic 312 is configured to select a communication link via which the MAC layer data unit should be transmitted.

[0088] Each LS MAC logic 316 generally implements MAC layer functions specific to the particular communication link to which the LS MAC logic 316 corresponds. For example, in some embodiments, the LS MAC logic 316a is configured to determine when a first communication link is idle and available for transmission, and the LS MAC logic 316b is configured to determine when a second communication link is idle and available for transmission. In some embodiments, each LS MAC logic 316 is associated with a respective network address (e.g., MAC address), i.e., the LS MAC logic 316a is associated with a first network address (e.g., a first MAC address) and the LS MAC logic 316a is associated with a second network address (e.g., a second MAC address) that is different from the first network address.

[0089] In some embodiments, the public MAC logic 312 implements the above referenced Figure 1 In some embodiments, the common MAC logic 312 additionally or alternatively implements the communication link selection controller 140 discussed above. Figure 1 The client power saving controller 142 / power saving controller 192 discussed. In some embodiments, some or all of the client power saving controller 142 / power saving controller 192 are implemented as respective link-specific client power saving controller 142 / power saving controller 192 in respective LS MAC logic 316.

[0090] In some embodiments, when the network interface device 300 is in the AP, the client power conservation controller 142 is configured to negotiate a first schedule with the client station 154 for when the client station 154 is allowed to be in a sleep state with respect to a first communication link and when the client station should be in an awake state with respect to the first communication link, and according to some embodiments, negotiate a second schedule with the client station 154 for when the client station 154 is allowed to be in a sleep state with respect to a second communication link and when the client station should be in an awake state with respect to the second communication link. Similarly, according to some embodiments, when the network interface device 300 is in the client station, the power conservation controller 192 is configured to negotiate a first schedule with the AP for when the client station is allowed to be in a sleep state with respect to the first communication link and when the client station should be in an awake state with respect to the first communication link, and negotiate a second schedule with the AP for when the client station 154 is allowed to be in a sleep state with respect to the second communication link and when the client station should be in an awake state with respect to the second communication link.

[0091] In addition, in some embodiments, when the network interface device 300 is in the AP, the client energy conservation controller 142 is configured to determine when the client station 154 is in a sleep state with respect to the first communication link and is therefore unavailable for transmission or reception via the first communication link, and to determine when the client station 154 is in a sleep state with respect to the second communication link and is therefore unavailable for transmission or reception via the second communication link. Similarly, in some embodiments, when the network interface device 300 is in the client station, the energy conservation controller 192 is configured to determine the PS-related state of the client station with respect to the first communication link, and to determine the PS-related state of the client station with respect to the second communication link.

[0092] The PHY processor 308a includes a baseband signal processor 320a corresponding to the first communication link, and the PHY processor 308b includes a baseband signal processor 320b corresponding to the second communication link. The PHY processor 308a also includes a first RF radio (Radio-1) 328a corresponding to the first communication link, and the PHY processor 308b includes a second RF radio (Radio-2) 328b corresponding to the second communication link. The baseband signal processor 320a is coupled to the first RF radio 328a and the baseband signal processor 320b is coupled to the second RF radio 328b. In one embodiment, the RF radio 328a and the RF radio 328b correspond to Figure 1 In another embodiment, RF radio 328a and RF radio 328b correspond to Figure 1 The transceiver 174 of FIG. 1 is configured to operate on a first RF band and the RF radio 328b is configured to operate on a second RF band. In another embodiment, both the RF radio 328a and the RF radio 328b are configured to operate on the same RF band.

[0093] In one embodiment, the baseband signal processor 320 is configured to receive a frame (or PSDU) from the MAC processor 304, and encapsulate the frame (or PSDU) into a corresponding packet, and generate a corresponding baseband signal corresponding to the corresponding packet.

[0094] The baseband signal processor 320a provides the corresponding baseband signal generated by the baseband signal processor 320a to Radio-1 328a. The baseband signal processor 320b provides the corresponding baseband signal generated by the baseband signal processor 320b to Radio-2 328b. Radio-1 328a and Radio-2 328b up-convert the corresponding baseband signals to generate corresponding RF signals for transmission via the first communication link and the second communication link, respectively. Radio-1 328a transmits the first RF signal via the first frequency segment, and Radio-2 328b transmits the second RF signal via the second frequency segment.

[0095] Radio-1 328a and Radio-2 328b are further configured to receive respective RF signals via the first communication link and the second communication link, respectively. Radio-1 328a and Radio-2 328b generate respective baseband signals corresponding to the respective received signals. The generated respective baseband signals are provided to respective baseband signal processors 320a and 320b. The respective baseband signal processors 320a and 320b generate respective PSDUs corresponding to the respective received signals and provide the respective PSDUs to the MAC processor 304. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 304 processes the PSDUs received from the baseband signal processors 320a and 320b.

[0096] although Figure 3 The example network interface 300 shown includes a single MAC processor 304, but in some embodiments, other suitable network interface devices include several MAC processors, with respective ones of the several MAC processors 304 corresponding to respective ones of the communication links. Figure 3 The illustrated example network interface 300 includes several PHY processors 308, but in some embodiments, other suitable network interface devices include a single PHY processor with several RF radios corresponding to respective ones of the communication links. In some embodiments, the single PHY processor includes several baseband processors 320, while in other embodiments, the single PHY processor includes a single baseband processor configured to generate several baseband signals corresponding to the respective communication links and process several baseband signals received from the several RF radios.

[0097] In some embodiments, at least some MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) transmitted in a WLAN utilizing several communication links (such as described above) correspond to several traffic classes, where each traffic class is associated with a particular traffic type (e.g., network control, video, voice, streaming multimedia, etc.). For example, in one embodiment, the traffic classes are associated with particular quality of service (QoS) requirements and / or priorities (e.g., background, best effort, video, voice, etc.). In one embodiment, each traffic class corresponds to a particular traffic identifier (TID), and the MAC layer data unit (e.g., MPDU) includes (e.g., in a MAC header of the MAC layer data unit) an indication of the TID to which the MPDU corresponds.

[0098] In some embodiments, a first communication device is allowed to transmit an MPDU in an MPDU service flow having the same TID to a second communication device via any communication link without first negotiating with the second communication device to set a specific communication link via which the MPDU in the transmission service flow will be transmitted. Figure 2A -B, for the purpose of illustration, the first communication device is allowed to transmit a first group of MPDUs in an MPDU service flow having the same TID to the second communication device via the first frequency segment 208 (e.g., the first communication link) without first negotiating with the second communication device that the first frequency segment 208 will be used for the service flow. Continuing with this example, the first communication device is also allowed to subsequently transmit a second group of MPDUs in an MPDU service flow having the same TID to the second communication device via the second frequency segment 216 (e.g., the second communication link) without first negotiating with the second communication device that the communication link used for the service flow is switching from the first frequency segment 208 to the second frequency segment 216.

[0099] Similarly, in some embodiments, a first communications device is allowed to transmit MPDUs in any service flow (each service flow including MPDUs with a corresponding identical TID intended for a corresponding second communications device) to any of the second communications devices via any communications link without first negotiating with any of the second communications devices to set up a specific communications link via which the MPDUs in the service flow are to be transmitted.

[0100] In other embodiments, the first communication device needs to negotiate with the second communication device a specific communication link for transmitting an MPDU in an MPDU service flow having the same TID to the second communication device before transmitting the MPDU in the service flow via the specific communication link. Figure 2A-B, for the purpose of illustration, before transmitting the MPDU in the service flow via the first frequency segment 208, the first communication device needs to negotiate with the second communication device using the first frequency segment 208 (e.g., the first communication link) to transmit the MPDU in the service flow with the same TID to the second communication device. Continuing with this example, when the first communication device decides to switch to transmitting the MPDU in the service flow via the second frequency segment 216 (e.g., the second communication link), before transmitting the MPDU in the service flow to the second communication device via the second frequency segment 216, the first communication device needs to first negotiate with the second communication device to switch to using the second frequency segment 216 for the service flow.

[0101] Similarly, in some embodiments, before transmitting any service flow, the first communication device needs to negotiate with all second communication devices the communication links that will be used to transmit the MPDUs in the various service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same TID intended for the corresponding second communication devices).

[0102] In other embodiments, the first communication device is allowed to transmit the first group of service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same corresponding TID intended for the corresponding second communication device) via any communication link without first negotiating with any of the second communication devices to set a specific communication link via which the MPDUs in the first group of service flows will be transmitted. Similarly, in such an embodiment, the first communication device is allowed to switch the communication link via which the MPDUs in any service flow in the first group of service flows will be transmitted without first negotiating with any of the second communication devices about the switching of the communication link. On the other hand, in such an embodiment, before transmitting any service flow in the second group of service flows, the first communication device needs to negotiate with at least some of the second communication devices the communication link to be used to transmit the MPDUs in the second group of service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same corresponding TID intended for the corresponding second communication device). Similarly, in such an embodiment, before switching the communication link via which the MPDUs in the second group of service flows are transmitted, the first communication device needs to negotiate with at least some of the second communication devices the switching of the communication link via which the MPDUs in any service flow in the second group of service flows are transmitted.

[0103] In some embodiments, negotiating a communication link via which an MPDU having a specific TID is to be transmitted comprises transmitting, by the AP, an announcement frame specifying that all MPDUs having the specific TID and transmitted in the WLAN are to be transmitted via a specific communication link among several communication links used in the WLAN. In some embodiments, negotiating a communication link via which an MPDU having a specific TID is to be transmitted comprises transmitting, by the AP, an announcement frame specifying that all MPDUs having the specific TID to be transmitted to or by a specific client station are to be transmitted via a specific communication link among several communication links used in the WLAN.

[0104] In some embodiments, negotiating a communication link via which MPDUs having a particular TID are to be transmitted to or from a particular client station includes transmitting, by the particular client station, an announcement frame specifying that all MPDUs having the particular TID are to be transmitted to or from the client station via a particular communication link among a number of communication links used in the WLAN.

[0105] In some embodiments, negotiating a communication link such as described includes the AP making a final decision as to which communication link will be used for a particular TID and optionally for a particular client station. At least in some embodiments, having the AP make the final decision as to which communication link will be used for a particular TID and optionally for a particular client station facilitates the AP to control delay and / or jitter (and / or other suitable quality of service indicators) of transmission of MPDUs with the particular TID.

[0106] In some embodiments, if there is no negotiation about a specific TID, the first communication device is allowed to transmit the MPDU in the MPDU service flow with the same TID via any communication link without first negotiating with any of the second communication devices to set the specific communication link via which the MPDU in the service flow will be transmitted. On the other hand, if a negotiation has been made with the second communication device about a specific TID, the first communication device needs to transmit the MPDU in the MPDU service flow with the specific TID to the second communication device via the specific communication link.

[0107] Reference now Figure 1In some embodiments, the network interface 122 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 126 is configured, the communication link selection controller 140 is configured, etc.) to select a communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the same client station 154) will be transmitted. In some embodiments, the network interface 122 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 126 is configured, the communication link selection controller 140 is configured, etc.) to negotiate with the client station 154 the communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the same client station 154) will be transmitted. In some embodiments, the network interface 122 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 126 is configured, the communication link selection controller 140 is configured, etc.) to generate a frame that announces the communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the same client station 154) will be transmitted.

[0108] In some embodiments, the network interface 162 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 166 is configured, the communication link selection controller 190 is configured, etc.) to select a communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the AP 114) will be transmitted. In some embodiments, the network interface 162 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 166 is configured, the communication link selection controller 190 is configured, etc.) to negotiate with the AP 114 the communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the AP 114) will be transmitted. In some embodiments, the network interface 162 is configured (e.g., the MAC processor 166 is configured, the communication link selection controller 190 is configured, etc.) to generate a frame that announces the communication link via which a particular traffic flow (e.g., including MPDUs having the same TID and intended for the AP 114) will be transmitted.

[0109] Figure 4 4 is a flow chart of an example method 400 for transmitting a traffic flow in a WLAN utilizing multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to implement the method 400 and are only referenced for purposes of explanation. Figure 1 To describe Figure 4 In other embodiments, the method 400 is implemented by another suitable communication device.

[0110] At block 404, the first communications device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communications link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communications link selection controller 190 determines, etc.) whether a particular WLAN communications link has been negotiated with the second communications device for a first traffic flow. In one embodiment, the first traffic flow corresponds to an MPDU (within a PHY data unit or packet) having the same TID and optionally intended for the second communications device.

[0111] In response to determining at block 404 that a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first traffic flow, flow proceeds to block 408. At block 408, the first communications device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 270 transmits, etc.) packets in the first traffic flow only via the specific WLAN communication link negotiated with the second communications device.

[0112] On the other hand, in response to determining at block 404 that a WLAN communication link is not negotiated with the second communication device for the first service flow, the flow proceeds to block 412. At block 412, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 270 transmits, etc.) packets in the first service flow via several WLAN communication links.

[0113] In some embodiments, method 400 also includes: in response to determining at box 404 that a WLAN communication link is not negotiated with the second communication device for the first business flow, the first communication device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection controller 190 determines, etc.) whether all packets in the first business flow will be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link; and in response to determining that all packets in the first business flow will be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 270 transmits, etc.) packets in the first business flow via only one WLAN communication link; and transmitting the packets in the first business flow via several WLAN communication links at box 412 is also in response to a subsequent determination that all packets in the first business flow will not be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link.

[0114] Reference again Figure 1 , 2A-B, in some embodiments, the AP 114 negotiates a "negotiation link" with each client station 154 that is capable of using several communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segment. Among the several communication links, the negotiation link is used as the primary or default communication link between the AP 114 and the client station 154. In some embodiments, the negotiation link is the same for all client stations 154, for example, the WLAN 110 has only one negotiation link. In some embodiments, the AP 114 transmits beacon frames only in the negotiation link. In other embodiments, the AP 114 transmits beacon frames in several communication links.

[0115] In some embodiments, AP 114 transmits group-addressed frames only in the negotiation link. In other embodiments, AP 114 transmits each of at least some group-addressed frames in several communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segments. As used herein, a "group-addressed" frame is an MPDU in which the receiver address is set to a broadcast address or a multicast address within the MAC header of the MPDU. The broadcast address is a network address that indicates to the receiver that the MPDU is intended for all receivers. The multicast address is a network address that indicates to the receiver that the MPDU is intended for a group of receivers corresponding to the multicast address. For example, AP 114 may define a group of client stations 154 and assign a specific multicast address to the group of client stations 154. Therefore, when a client station 154 in the defined group receives an MPDU with a receiver address set to a specific multicast address, the client station 154 determines that the MPDU is intended for the client station; on the other hand, according to one embodiment, when a client station 154 not in the defined group receives an MPDU with a receiver address set to a specific multicast address, the client station 154 determines that the MPDU is not intended for the client station 154.

[0116] In some embodiments, the AP 114 determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, etc.) one or more communication links via which the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted, and the AP 114 transmits (e.g., the network interface device 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) the group-addressed frame via the determined one or more communication links.

[0117] When a communication device transmits a group-addressed frame via several communication links, the communication device transmits a corresponding instance of the group-addressed frame via a corresponding communication link in the communication link. In some embodiments, when the communication device transmits a corresponding instance of the group-addressed frame via a corresponding instance of the communication link, the communication device sets the sequence number field in the MAC header of each instance of the group-addressed frame to the same number. The sequence number field corresponds to the sequence number corresponding to the group-addressed frame. Therefore, the corresponding sequence number field of other subsequent corresponding group-addressed frames (as opposed to the instance of the same group-addressed frame) is incremented so that different corresponding group-addressed frames have different sequence numbers, although if several instances of the same subsequent group-addressed frame are transmitted, the sequence number fields in several instances of the same subsequent group-addressed frame are set to the same value. As will be described in more detail below, according to some embodiments, the receiver uses the sequence number field in the MAC header of the corresponding instance of the group-addressed frame received via several communication links to accept one of the instances of the group-addressed frame and discard or drop any other instances of the group-addressed frame.

[0118] Figure 5 5 is a diagram illustrating a group-addressed MPDU transmitted via several communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments according to an embodiment. For example, several instances of the group-addressed MPDU 504 are transmitted via several communication links. Specifically, a first instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504a is transmitted via a first communication link corresponding to a first frequency segment, and a second instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504b is transmitted via a second communication link corresponding to a second frequency segment. The first instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504a includes a MAC header 508a with a sequence number field set to a value x, and the second instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504b includes a MAC header 508b with a sequence number field set to a value x. In addition, several instances of the group-addressed MPDU 520 are transmitted via several communication links. In particular, after the transmission of the first instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504a, the first instance of the group-addressed MPDU 520a is transmitted via the first communication link. Similarly, after the transmission of the second instance of the group-addressed MPDU 504b, a second instance of the group-addressed MPDU 520b is transmitted via the second communication link. The first instance of the group-addressed MPDU 520a includes a MAC header 524a with a sequence number field set to a value of x+1, and the second instance of the group-addressed MPDU 520b includes a MAC header 524b with a sequence number field set to a value of x+1. In other words, the sequence number of the group-addressed MPDU 520 transmitted after the transmission of the group-addressed MPDU 504 is generally incremented with respect to the sequence number of the group-addressed MPDU 504.

[0119] Figure 66 is a flow chart of an example method 600 for transmitting a group-addressed frame in a WLAN utilizing multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency segments according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to implement the method 600, and reference is made to the method 600 for explanation purposes only. Figure 1 To describe Figure 6 In other embodiments, the method 600 is implemented by another suitable communication device.

[0120] At block 604, the first communications device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communications link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communications link selection controller 190 determines, etc.) whether a group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of the plurality of WLAN communications links, the group-addressed frame being intended for a plurality of second communications devices in the WLAN.

[0121] In response to determining at block 604 that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via the plurality of WLAN communication links, flow proceeds to block 608. At block 608, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) the plurality of instances of the group-addressed frame via respective ones of the plurality of WLAN communication links. In one embodiment, transmitting the plurality of instances of the group-addressed frame at block 608 includes transmitting the first instance of the group-addressed frame via a first one of the plurality of WLAN communication links, and transmitting the second instance of the group-addressed frame via a second one of the plurality of WLAN communication links.

[0122] In some embodiments, each instance of the group-addressed frame transmitted at block 608 includes a sequence number field in a MAC header of the group-addressed frame, and the sequence number field in each instance of the group-addressed frame is set to the same value. In one embodiment, method 600 further includes the first communications device generating (e.g., generated by network interface 122, generated by MAC processor 126, generated by network interface 162, generated by MAC processor 166, etc.) each instance of the group-addressed frame such that the sequence number field in the MAC header of each instance of the group-addressed frame is set to the same value. On the other hand, according to one embodiment, the corresponding sequence number fields of subsequent other corresponding group-addressed frames (as opposed to instances of the same group-addressed frame) are incremented such that different corresponding group-addressed frames have different sequence numbers, although if several instances of the same subsequent group-addressed frame are transmitted, the sequence number fields in the several instances of the same subsequent group-addressed frame are set to another same value.

[0123] On the other hand, in response to determining at block 604 that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted only via a single WLAN communication link, flow proceeds to block 612. At block 612, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) the group-addressed frame only via a single WLAN communication link among the several WLAN communication links.

[0124] Figure 7 700 is a flow chart of an example method 700 for processing, at a receiver device, a group-addressed frame transmitted in a WLAN utilizing multiple WLAN communication links, according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to implement the method 700, and reference is made to the method 700 for purposes of explanation only. Figure 1 To describe Figure 7 In other embodiments, the method 700 is implemented by another suitable communication device.

[0125] At block 704, the communication device initializes (e.g., the network interface 162 initializes, the MAC processor 166 initializes, the network interface 122 initializes, the MAC processor 126 initializes, etc.) a receiver group addressing sequence number maintained by the communication device. According to one embodiment, the communication device maintains (e.g., the network interface 162 maintains, the MAC processor 166 maintains, the network interface 122 maintains, the MAC processor 126 maintains, etc.) the receiver group addressing sequence number, for example, in a register, a memory location, etc., and the communication device initializes (e.g., the network interface 162 initializes, the MAC processor 166 initializes, the network interface 122 initializes, the MAC processor 126 initializes, etc.) the receiver group addressing sequence number to zero or another suitable value.

[0126] At block 708, the communication device receives (e.g., the network interface 162 receives, the PHY processor 170 receives, the MAC processor 166 receives, the network interface 122 receives, the PHY processor 130 receives, the MAC processor 126 receives, etc.) a group-addressed frame transmitted via one of the WLAN communication links, the group-addressed frame being intended for the plurality of communication devices in the WLAN.

[0127] At box 712, the communication device determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) whether the sequence number in the group addressed frame received at box 708 is greater than the receiver group addressed sequence number maintained by the communication device.

[0128] In response to determining at block 712 that the sequence number in the group addressed frame received at block 708 is greater than the receiver group addressed sequence number, flow proceeds to block 716. At block 716, the communications device sets (e.g., the network interface 162 sets, the MAC processor 166 sets, the network interface 122 sets, the MAC processor 126 sets, etc.) the receiver group addressed sequence number to the sequence number in the group addressed frame received at block 708.

[0129] At block 720, the communications device processes (e.g., network interface 162 processes, MAC processor 166 processes, network interface 122 processes, MAC processor 126 processes, etc.) the group addressed frame received at block 708, and flow returns to block 708 to receive another group addressed frame.

[0130] On the other hand, in response to determining at block 712 that the sequence number in the group-addressed frame received at block 708 is not greater than (e.g., less than or equal to) the receiver group-addressed sequence number, flow proceeds to block 724. At block 724, the communications device discards (e.g., the network interface 162 discards, the MAC processor 166 discards, the network interface 122 discards, the MAC processor 126 discards, etc.) the group-addressed frame received at block 708. For example, because the sequence number in the group-addressed frame received at block 708 is not greater than (e.g., less than or equal to) the receiver group-addressed sequence number, this indicates that the group-addressed frame received at block 708 is an additional instance of the same group-addressed frame that was received via another communications link and has been or will be processed by the communications device, and thus the additional instance of the group-addressed frame received at block 708 may be discarded. In association with discarding the group-addressed frame at block 724, flow returns to block 708 to receive another group-addressed frame.

[0131] Reference again Figure 1 , Figure 2A To Figure B and Figure 3 According to some embodiments, communication devices such as AP 114, client station 154-1, and network interface device 300 are configured to independently control the corresponding states of the communication devices with respect to a number of communication links corresponding to corresponding frequency segments. For example, according to one embodiment, the communication link may be in an open state or a closed state with respect to each communication link. For ease of explanation, the state of a communication device in an open state with respect to a communication link is sometimes referred to herein as a "communication link in an open state", and the state of a communication device in a closed state with respect to a communication link is sometimes referred to herein as a "communication link in a closed state".

[0132] When the communication link is in the closed state, the communication device does not transmit or receive via the communication link. Therefore, in some embodiments and / or scenarios, the communication device may optionally place at least some hardware components corresponding to the communication link in a low power mode to save power. For example, for the network interface device 300 ( Figure 3 ), when the first communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 controls the network interface device 300 to place one or both of i) the first RF radio 328a and ii) the first baseband processor 320a in a low power mode. In some embodiments, when the first communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 controls the network interface device 300 to place the PHY processor 308a in a low power mode. In some embodiments, when the first communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 additionally or alternatively controls the network interface device 300 to place the LS MAC 316a in a low power mode.

[0133] Similarly, when the second communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 controls the network interface device 300 to place one or both of i) the second RF radio 328b and ii) the second baseband processor 320b in a low power mode. In some embodiments, when the second communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 controls the network interface device 300 to place the PHY processor 308b in a low power mode. In some embodiments, when the second communication link is in the off state, the energy saving controller 142 / 192 additionally or alternatively controls the network interface device 300 to place the LS MAC 316b in a low power mode.

[0134] In some embodiments utilizing a negotiation link such as described above, the communications device is required to maintain the negotiation link in an open state, and is allowed to selectively transition any other communications links to a closed state.

[0135] According to some embodiments, the communication device announces the state of the communication link. According to one embodiment, for example, during an association process in which a client station associates with an AP (e.g., the client station joins a WLAN managed by the AP), the client station generates and transmits a frame including an indication as to whether a particular communication link is in an open state or in a closed state (e.g., included in an information element (IE) of a suitable frame such as an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, a probe request frame, etc., included in a MAC header of a suitable frame (e.g., within a control field or another suitable field), etc.). According to one embodiment, as another example, when the client station associates with the AP, the client station generates and transmits a frame (e.g., an acknowledgment frame, an action frame, a quality of service (QoS) null frame, or other suitable frame) including an indication as to whether a particular communication link is in an open state or in a closed state (e.g., included in a MAC header (e.g., within a control field or another suitable field)).

[0136] In some embodiments, if a specific communication link transitions to a closed state, then according to one embodiment, the client station transmits a frame including the above-mentioned indication in another communication link (e.g., a negotiation link or another suitable communication link) in an open state. In some embodiments, if a specific communication link transitions to an open state, then according to one embodiment, the client station transmits a frame including the above-mentioned indication in the same communication link or another communication link (e.g., a negotiation link or another suitable communication link) in an open state.

[0137] According to some embodiments, the first communication device requests the second communication to change the state of the communication link. According to one embodiment, for example, the AP generates and transmits a frame (e.g., an acknowledgment frame, an action frame, a QoS empty frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, a probe response frame, or another suitable frame) to the client station, the frame including a request to set a specific communication link to an open state or a closed state. In some embodiments, if the specific communication link is in a closed state, according to one embodiment, the AP transmits a frame including the request in another communication link in an open state (e.g., a negotiation link or another suitable communication link). In some embodiments, if the specific communication link is in an open state, according to one embodiment, the AP transmits a frame including the request in the same communication link or another communication link in an open state (e.g., a negotiation link or another suitable communication link).

[0138] In one embodiment, when the communication link is in an on state, the communication device can operate in an active mode or a power saving mode with respect to the communication link. According to one embodiment, in the active mode, the hardware components of the communication device corresponding to the communication link are always powered and ready to transmit and receive via the communication link when in the active mode.

[0139] In the energy saving mode, the communication device switches between multiple states including a doze state and an awake state with respect to the communication link. According to one embodiment, in the doze state, the communication device does not transmit and other communication devices assume that the communication device cannot receive via the communication link. In some embodiments and / or scenarios, when the communication device is in a doze state associated with the communication link, at least some hardware components of the communication device corresponding to the communication link may be placed in a low power mode. On the other hand, in the awake state, the hardware components of the communication device corresponding to the communication link are powered and ready to transmit and receive via the communication link.

[0140] In some embodiments, the communication device is configured to allow different energy-saving related modes (e.g., active or energy-saving) with respect to different communication links and to switch independently between different energy-saving related modes (e.g., active or energy-saving) with respect to different communication links. Similarly, in some embodiments, the communication device is configured to transition between different energy-saving related states (e.g., awake or dozed) with respect to a first communication link, independently of the energy-saving related modes (multiple) and / or energy-saving related states (multiple) of any other communication link. According to some embodiments, as an example, when the communication device is in a dozed state with respect to a first communication link and is unable to transmit / receive via the first communication link, the communication device may be in an active mode or awake state with respect to one or more second communication links, and thus be able to transmit / receive via the one or more second communication links.

[0141] According to some embodiments, a communication device announces a change in the mode of the communication device with respect to a communication link. According to one embodiment, for example, when a client station enters (or will soon enter) an energy-saving mode with respect to a communication link, the client station generates and transmits a frame (e.g., an acknowledgment frame, an action frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame) including an indication that the client station is entering an energy-saving mode with respect to the communication link (e.g., included in a MAC header (e.g., within a control field or another suitable field), included in a MAC frame body, etc.). According to one embodiment, as another example, when a client station enters (or will enter) an active mode with respect to a communication link, the client station generates and transmits a frame (e.g., an acknowledgment frame, an action frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame) including an indication that the client station is entering an active mode with respect to the communication link (e.g., included in a MAC header (e.g., within a control field or another suitable field), included in a MAC frame body, etc.). In some embodiments, when the mode change corresponds to a specific communication link (as opposed to all communication links used by the communication device), the frame discussed above includes an indication of the specific communication link. In some embodiments, when the mode change corresponds to all communication links used by the communication device, the frame discussed above includes an indication that the mode change corresponds to all communication links used by the communication device. In some embodiments, the frame discussed above does not include an indication of which link or links the mode change corresponds to, and the communication device announces a mode change associated with a specific link, and the communication transmits the frame in the communication link to which the mode change corresponds.

[0142] In some embodiments, when the mode change corresponds to a specific communication link (as opposed to all communication links used by the communication device), the communication device transmits the frame in the specific communication link. In other embodiments, when the mode change corresponds to a specific communication link (as opposed to all communication links used by the communication device), the communication device transmits the frame in another communication link, wherein the frame includes an indication that the mode change corresponds to the specific communication link.

[0143] In some embodiments, when the mode change corresponds to a particular communication link rather than all communication links used by the communication device), a frame such as that discussed above (e.g., an acknowledgment frame, an action frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame) includes an indication as to whether any other communication link(s) used by the communication device are in a wake-up mode.

[0144] In some embodiments, in response to switching the communication link to the on state, the communication device is considered to be in an active mode with respect to the communication link. In some embodiments, in response to switching the communication link to the off state, the communication device is considered to be in a power saving mode with respect to the communication link, except that no transition to an awake state with respect to the communication link occurs and no traffic may be transmitted on the communication link.

[0145] Reference again Figure 6 , the communication device that is to transmit the group-addressed frame decides via which communication links to transmit the group-addressed frame based on the energy-saving related modes / states of other communication devices that will receive the group-addressed frames for several communication links. According to one embodiment, for example, if the communication device determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the client energy-saving controller 142 determines, the network interface device 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection controller 190 determines, the energy-saving controller 192 determines, the network interface device 300 determines, etc.) that all other communication devices that will receive the group-addressed frame are in at least one of the following: i) active mode or ii) awake state with respect to a single WLAN communication link, then the communication device determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface device 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection controller 190 determines, the network interface device 300 determines, etc.) to transmit the group-addressed frame only via a single communication link.

[0146] On the other hand, if the communication device determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the client power saving controller 142 determines, the network interface device 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection controller 190 determines, the power saving controller 192 determines, the network interface device 300 determines, etc.) that all other communication devices that will receive the group-addressed frame are not in at least one of the following: i) active mode or ii) awake state with respect to a single WLAN communication link, then the communication device determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface device 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection continue roller 190 determines, the network interface device 300 determines, etc.) to transmit the group-addressed frame via several communication links.

[0147] Figure 8 is a diagram of an example communication exchange 800 between an AP and a client station, according to an embodiment. Figure 8 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Figure 8 A first communication link (e.g., a negotiation link) and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time is Figure 8 Increases from left to right.

[0148] exist Figure 8 In the illustrated scenario, the second communication link is initially in a closed state for the client station. The client station generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 162, generated by the network interface 300, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, etc.) and transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the network interface 300, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, etc.) a frame (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame) 804, which corresponds to a notification that the communication link is in an open state. In one embodiment, the frame 804 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the second communication link is in an open state. In another embodiment, the frame 804 does not include an indication of which communication link the notification is for, but because the frame 804 is transmitted in the second communication link, the AP assumes that the frame 804 is announcing that the second communication link is in an open state.

[0149] Upon receiving frame 804, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power conservation controller 142 determines, etc.) that the second communication link is in an on state for the client station. In embodiments where frame 804 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the second communication link is in an on state, the AP uses (e.g., the network interface 122 uses, the network interface 300 uses, the MAC processor 126 uses, the client power conservation controller 142 uses, etc.) the indication of the second communication link to determine that the second communication link is in an on state. In embodiments where frame 804 does not include an indication of which communication link the announcement is for, in response to receiving frame 804 via the second communication link, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power conservation controller 142 determines, etc.) that the announcement is for the second communication link.

[0150] According to one embodiment, in response to receiving frame 804, the AP generates (e.g., network interface 122 generates, network interface 300 generates, MAC processor 126 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., network interface 122 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 808 acknowledging receipt of frame 804.

[0151] In other embodiments, frame 804 is transmitted in a first communication link.

[0152] Fig. 9 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 900 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig. 9 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig. 9A first communication link (e.g., a negotiation link) and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time is Fig. 9 Increases from left to right.

[0153] exist Fig. 9 In the illustrated scenario, for the client station, the second communication link is initially in the closed state. The AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client energy saving controller 124 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) a frame (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame) 904, which corresponds to a request for the client station to transition the second communication link to the open state. In one embodiment, the frame 904 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the request corresponds to the second communication link.

[0154] According to one embodiment, in response to receiving the frame 904, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 908 that acknowledges receipt of the frame 904. Additionally, in response to receiving the frame 904, the client station determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy saving controller 192 determines, etc.) whether to transition the second communication link to the on state in response to the frame 904.

[0155] In response to determining to transition the second communication link to the on state, the client station transitions the second communication link to the on state (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions the second communication link to the on state, the network interface 300 transitions the second communication link to the on state, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 to transition the second communication link to the on state, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 to transition the second communication link to the on state, etc.). In addition, in response to determining to transition the second communication link to the on state, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) a frame (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame) 912 corresponding to a notification that the communication link is in the on state. In one embodiment, the frame 912 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the second communication link is in the on state.

[0156] Upon receiving frame 912, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client energy saving controller 142 determines, etc.) that the second communication link is in an open state for the client station. In embodiments where frame 912 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the second communication link is in an open state, the AP uses (e.g., the network interface 122 uses, the network interface 300 uses, the MAC processor 126 uses, the client energy saving controller 142 uses, etc.) the indication of the second communication link to determine that the second communication link is in an open state.

[0157] In response to receiving frame 912, the AP generates (e.g., network interface 122 generates, network interface 300 generates, MAC processor 126 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., network interface 122 transmits, according to an embodiment, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 916 confirming receipt of frame 804.

[0158] In other embodiments, similar to Figure 8 Frame 804 in, frame 912 is transmitted in the second communication link.

[0159] Fig.10 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1000 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.10 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.10A first communication link (e.g., a negotiation link) and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time is Fig.10 Increases from left to right.

[0160] exist Fig.10 In the illustrated scenario, the second communication link is in power saving mode and is initially dozed for the client station. The AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client power saving controller 124 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) a beacon frame 1004. In one embodiment, a first instance of the beacon frame 1004a is transmitted via the first communication link and a second instance of the beacon frame 1004b is transmitted via the second communication link.

[0161] Prior to transmitting the next beacon frame 1006 (i.e., prior to the next target beacon transmission time (TBTT)), the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power conservation controller 124 determines, etc.) that the client station should transition to an awake state associated with the second communication link. As an example, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power conservation controller 124 determines, etc.) that the client station should transition to an awake state associated with the second communication link because the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power conservation controller 124 determines, etc.) that there is a high traffic load on the first communication link, there is a high traffic load for traffic to the client, etc.

[0162] In response to determining that the client station should transition to an awake state associated with the second communication link, the AP generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the network interface 300, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client energy saving controller 124, etc.) and transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the network interface 300, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, etc.) a frame 1008 (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame), the frame 1008 corresponding to a request for the client station to transition to an awake state associated with the second communication link. In one embodiment, the frame 1008 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the request corresponds to the second communication link.

[0163] According to one embodiment, in response to receiving the frame 1008, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1012 that acknowledges receipt of the frame 1008. Additionally, in response to receiving the frame 1008, the client station determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy saving controller 192 determines, etc.) whether to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link in response to the frame 1008.

[0164] In response to determining to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the client station transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the network interface 300 transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, etc.).

[0165] In addition, according to some embodiments, in response to determining to transition to the awake state associated with the second communication link, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) a frame (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or other suitable frame) ( Fig.10 In one embodiment, the client station transmits the frame (not shown) in the first communication link (not shown), the frame corresponding to a notification that the client station has transitioned to an awake state associated with the second communication link. In one embodiment, the frame (notifying that the client station has transitioned to an awake state associated with the second communication link) includes an indication of the second communication link that indicates that the second communication link is in an awake state. In one embodiment, the client station transmits the frame (notifying that the client station has transitioned to an awake state associated with the second communication link) in the first communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits the frame (notifying that the client station has transitioned to an awake state associated with the second communication link) in the second communication link.

[0166] In another embodiment, the client station determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy conservation controller 192 determines, etc.) a future time to transition to the awake state associated with the second communication link in response to frame 1008, and the transition to the awake state occurs at the determined future time. In such an embodiment, according to some embodiments, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy conservation controller 192 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) a frame (e.g., a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame) ( Fig.10 In one embodiment, the frame (not shown) corresponds to a notification that the client station will transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link at a future time and indicates the future time. In one embodiment, the frame (which notifies the client station that the wake-up state associated with the second communication link will transition to the wake-up state) includes an indication of the second communication link for indicating that the second communication link will transition to the wake-up state. In one embodiment, the client station transmits the frame (which notifies the client station that the wake-up state associated with the second communication link will transition to the future time) in the first communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits the frame (which notifies the client station that the wake-up state associated with the second communication link will transition to the future time) in the second communication link.

[0167] When it is determined that the client station is in the awake state associated with the second communication link, one or more data packets 1016 are transmitted to the client station, AP via the second communication link (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.). In some embodiments, one or more data packets 1020 are also transmitted to the client station, AP via the first communication link (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.).

[0168] Fig.11 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1100 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.11 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.11 A first communication link (e.g., a negotiation link) and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time is Fig.11 Increases from left to right.

[0169] exist Fig.11In the illustrated scenario, the second communication link is in power saving mode and is initially dozed for the client station. The AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the network interface 300 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client power saving controller 124 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) a beacon frame 1104. In one embodiment, a first instance of the beacon frame 1104a is transmitted via the first communication link and a second instance of the beacon frame 1104b is transmitted via the second communication link.

[0170] The beacon frame 1104 includes information (e.g., within a traffic indication map (TIM)) that the AP has buffered frames for the client station, and the buffered frames will be transmitted to the client station via the second communication link. The client station receives the beacon frame 1104a via the first communication link and determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the network interface 300 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy saving controller 192 determines, etc.) that the AP has buffered frames for the client station, and the buffered frames will be transmitted to the client station via the second communication link.

[0171] Before the AP transmits the next beacon frame 1106 (i.e., before the next TBTT), and in response to determining that the AP has cached frames for the client station, the cached frames will be transmitted to the client station via the second communication link, and the client station transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the network interface 300 transitions to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 to transition to a wake-up state associated with the second communication link, and so on). In addition, according to some embodiments, in response to determining that the AP has buffered frames for the client station, the buffered frames are to be transmitted to the client station via the second communication link, the client station generates (e.g., network interface 162 generates, network interface 300 generates, MAC processor 166 generates, power saving controller 192 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) a frame 1108 (e.g., a power save (PS) poll frame, a QoS null frame, an action frame, or another suitable frame), the frame 1108 indicating that the client station has transitioned to an awake state associated with the second communication link. In one embodiment, the frame 1108 includes an indication of the second communication link indicating that the second communication link is in an awake state. In one embodiment, the client station transmits the frame 1108 in the first communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits the frame 1108 in the second communication link.

[0172] According to one embodiment, in response to receiving frame 1108, the AP generates (e.g., network interface 122 generates, network interface 300 generates, MAC processor 126 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., network interface 122 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1112 acknowledging receipt of frame 1108.

[0173] Upon determining that the client station is in an awake state associated with the second communication link, the AP transmits (e.g., network interface 122 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) one or more data packets 1116 to the client station via the second communication link.

[0174] According to one embodiment, in response to receiving packet 1116, the client station generates (e.g., network interface 162 generates, network interface 300 generates, MAC processor 166 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1120 acknowledging receipt of packet 1116.

[0175] In some embodiments, the confirmation frame 1120 is generated to include an indication that the second communication device has transitioned to a doze state associated with the second communication link (e.g., in a MAC header of the confirmation frame 1120, in a control field within the MAC header, etc.). In some embodiments, the confirmation frame 1120 does not include an indication that the transition to the doze state is associated with the second communication link, but rather the AP assumes that the transition to the doze state is associated with the second communication link because the indication of the transition to the doze state was transmitted in the second communication link. In other embodiments, the confirmation frame 1120 includes an explicit indication that the transition to the doze state is associated with the second communication link (e.g., in a MAC header of the confirmation frame 1120, in a control field within the MAC header, etc.).

[0176] Fig.12 1 is a flow chart of an example method 1200 for communicating via a number of communication links corresponding to respective frequency segments according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 ( Figure 1 )、client station 154( Figure 1 ) and / or network interface device 300( Figure 3 ) is configured to implement method 1200 and is referenced for explanation purposes only. Figure 1 and 3 To describe Fig.12 In other embodiments, the method 1200 is implemented by another suitable communication device.

[0177] In various embodiments, method 1200 is implemented in conjunction with one or more (or none) of the following: Figure 4 Method 400, reference Figure 5 The technology described, Figure 6 Method 600, reference Figure 8 Described techniques, references Fig. 9 Described techniques, references Fig.10 The technology described and / or referenced Fig.11 Describe the technology.

[0178] At block 1204, the first communications device monitors (e.g., the network interface 122 monitors, the MAC processor 126 monitors, the client power conservation controller 142 monitors, the network interface 162 monitors, the MAC processor 166 monitors, the power conservation controller 192 monitors, the network interface 300 monitors, etc.) respective power conservation-related states and / or modes of the second communications device with respect to a plurality of communications links corresponding to respective frequency segments. In some embodiments, monitoring the power conservation-related states and / or modes at block 1204 includes determining respective current power conservation-related states and / or modes corresponding to respective communications links. In some embodiments, monitoring the power conservation-related states and / or modes at block 1204 additionally or alternatively includes determining one or more respective future times at which one or more current power conservation-related states and / or modes (corresponding to respective communications links) will change. In some embodiments, monitoring energy-saving-related states and / or modes at box 1204 includes one or both of the following: i) recording corresponding indications of corresponding current energy-saving-related states and / or modes corresponding to corresponding communication links in a memory device (e.g., one or more registers, register files, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, solid-state memory, etc.), and ii) recording one or more corresponding indications of one or more corresponding future times when one or more current energy-saving-related states and / or modes (corresponding to corresponding communication links) will change in the memory device.

[0179] According to some embodiments, determining the respective energy saving related state and / or mode corresponding to the respective communication link at block 1204 includes receiving from the second communication device an indication of the current energy saving related state and / or mode of the second communication device corresponding to the respective communication link. For example, the first communication device receives an indication such as described above (e.g., with reference to Figures 8 to 11 ) or other appropriate instructions.

[0180] According to some embodiments, determining the respective energy saving related states and / or modes corresponding to the respective communication links at block 1204 additionally or alternatively includes receiving from the second communication device an indication of a future time at which one or more current energy saving related states and / or modes (corresponding to the respective communication links) will change. For example, the first communication device receives an indication such as described above (e.g., with reference to Figures 8 to 11 ) or other appropriate instructions.

[0181] At block 1208, the first communication device communicates with the second communication device (e.g., the network interface 122 communicates with the second communication device, the network interface 162 communicates with the second communication device, the network interface 300 communicates with the second communication device, etc.) via a plurality of communication links according to the respective energy saving related states and / or modes of the second communication device determined at block 1204. In some embodiments, communicating via the plurality of communication links at block 1208 includes transmitting to the second communication device via one or more communication links determined by the first communication device to be in an on state (with respect to the second communication device), and determining not to transmit to the second communication device via one or more communication links determined by the first communication device to be in an off state (with respect to the second communication device). In some embodiments, communicating via the plurality of communication links at block 1208 additionally or alternatively includes transmitting to the second communication device via one or more communication links determined by the first communication device to be in an awake state (with respect to the second communication device), and determining not to transmit to the second communication device via one or more communication links determined by the first communication device to be in a dozed state (with respect to the second communication device).

[0182] In some embodiments, client stations negotiate a schedule for transitioning between an awake state and a doze state associated with a communication link. The schedule is sometimes referred to herein as a "target wake time schedule," "TWT schedule," or "TWT protocol." For a particular client station, the TWT schedule includes a specified time period (sometimes referred to as a "TWT service period" or "TWTSP") during which the client station typically transitions to an awake state (if not already in the awake state) and remains in the awake state for the duration of the TWT SP. In some cases, the client station returns to the doze state at the end of the TWT SP. At least in some embodiments, the AP's use of a TWT schedule is useful for minimizing contention between client stations in a WLAN and / or reducing power consumption of client stations.

[0183] According to some embodiments, negotiation of a TWT schedule includes negotiating one or more TWT schedule parameters, such as one or more of: i) a start time of a TWT SP, ii) a time period between TWT SPs, and iii) a duration of each TWT SP. According to some embodiments, negotiation of one or more TWT schedule parameters includes communication devices exchanging one or more packets regarding the one or more TWT schedule parameters.

[0184] The first communication device negotiates a TWT schedule (with the second communication device) for a specific communication link among a plurality of communication links corresponding to a corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, the TWT schedule for the specific communication link is negotiated independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) for any other communication link among the plurality of communication links. For example, in some embodiments, the first communication device negotiates a TWT schedule for a specific communication link (with the second communication device) when no other TWT schedule exists and / or no other TWT schedule is negotiated (with the second communication device) for any other communication link used with the second communication device. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule exists for another communication link, the first communication device negotiates one or more parameters of the TWT schedule for the specific communication link (with the second communication device) that are different from the corresponding parameters of the other TWT schedules for the other communication links.

[0185] In other embodiments, one or more parameters of the TWT schedules for several communication links are not independently negotiated. For example, the negotiated one or more parameters of the TWT schedule apply to all communication links used by the communication device. As an illustrative embodiment, a first communication device negotiates with a second communication device the same TWT schedule for all communication links used by the first communication device, for example, i) the start time of the TWT SP, ii) the time period between the TWT SPs, and iii) the duration of each TWT SP is the same for all communication links.

[0186] As another example, a first set of parameters for the negotiated TWT schedule applies to all communication links used by the communication device, while a second set of parameters for the negotiated TWT schedule applies to less than all communication links used by the communication device. As an illustrative embodiment, a first communication device negotiates with a second communication device regarding i) a start time of a TWT SP and ii) a time period between TWT SPs, which are the same for all communication links, and the first communication device negotiates with the second communication device regarding corresponding different durations of the TWT SPs for corresponding communication links.

[0187] According to one embodiment, tearing down of a TWT schedule involves permanently ending the negotiated TWT schedule. According to some embodiments, tearing down a TWT schedule includes the communication devices exchanging one or more packets to end the TWT schedule.

[0188] The first communication device dismantles the TWT schedule of a specific communication link among the multiple communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, the dismantling of the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) of any other communication links among the multiple communication links. For example, in some embodiments, when no other TWT schedule exists for any other communication link used with the second communication device, the first communication device dismantles the TWT schedule of the specific communication link. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule for another communication link exists, the first communication device dismantles the TWT schedule of the specific communication link without dismantling the other TWT schedule of the other communication link, for example, after the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is dismantled, the other TWT schedule of the other communication is still valid.

[0189] In other embodiments, the removal of the TWT schedule for a particular communication link is not performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules for other communication links in the plurality of communication links. As an illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously removes the TWT schedules for all communication links. As another illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously removes the TWT schedules for a first group of several communication links without removing one or more other TWT schedules for a second group of communication links.

[0190] According to one embodiment, suspension of the TWT schedule involves suspending the agreed upon TWT schedule for a defined period of time. According to some embodiments, suspending the TWT schedule comprises the communication devices exchanging one or more packets to suspend the TWT schedule.

[0191] The first communication device suspends the TWT schedule of a specific communication link among the multiple communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, the suspension of the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) of any other communication links among the multiple communication links. For example, in some embodiments, the first communication device suspends the TWT schedule for the specific communication link when no other TWT schedule exists for any other communication link used with the second communication device. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule for another communication link exists, the first communication device suspends the TWT schedule of the specific communication link without suspending the other TWT schedule of the other communication link, for example, when the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is suspended, the other TWT schedule of the other communication remains active.

[0192] In other embodiments, the suspension of the TWT schedule for a particular communication link is not performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules for other communication links in the plurality of communication links. As an illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously suspends the TWT schedules for all communication links. As another illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously suspends the TWT schedules for a first group of several communication links without suspending one or more other TWT schedules for a second group of communication links.

[0193] According to one embodiment, the resumption of the TWT schedule involves resuming the suspended TWT schedule. According to some embodiments, resuming the TWT schedule includes the communication devices exchanging one or more packets to resume the TWT schedule.

[0194] The first communication device restores the TWT schedule of a specific communication link among the multiple communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, the restoration of the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) of any other communication links among the multiple communication links. For example, in some embodiments, when no other TWT schedule exists for any other communication link used by the second communication device, the first communication device restores the TWT schedule of the specific communication link. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule of another communication link exists and is suspended, the first communication device restores the TWT schedule of the specific communication link without restoring the other TWT schedule of the other communication link, for example, when the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is restored, the other TWT schedule of the other communication remains suspended.

[0195] In other embodiments, restoration of the TWT schedule for a particular communication link is not performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules for other communication links in the plurality of communication links. As an illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously restores the TWT schedules for all communication links. As another illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously restores the TWT schedules for a first group of several communication links without restoring one or more other TWT schedules for a second group of communication links.

[0196] According to one embodiment, a change to a TWT schedule involves changing one or more parameters of an existing TWT schedule. For example, according to an illustrative embodiment, changing a TWT schedule involves changing one or both of: i) the time period between TWT SPs, and ii) the duration of each TWT SP. According to some embodiments, changing one or more TWT schedule parameters includes communication devices exchanging one or more packets regarding changes to the one or more TWT schedule parameters.

[0197] The first communication device changes the TWT schedule of a specific communication link among a plurality of communication links corresponding to a corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, the change of the TWT schedule of the specific communication link is performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) of any other communication links among the plurality of communication links. For example, in some embodiments, the first communication device changes the TWT schedule of the specific communication link when no other TWT schedule exists for any other communication link used with the second communication device. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule exists for another communication link, the first communication device changes the parameters of the TWT schedule of the specific communication link without changing the corresponding parameters of the other TWT schedule of the other communication link (and optionally without changing any parameters thereof).

[0198] In other embodiments, the change of the TWT schedule of a particular communication link is not performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules of other communication links in the plurality of communication links. As an illustrative example, the first communication device changes the TWT schedules of all communication links simultaneously. As another illustrative example, the first communication device changes the TWT schedules of a first group of several communication links simultaneously without changing one or more other TWT schedules of a second group of communication links.

[0199] During a particular TWT SP, the communication devices may negotiate to end the TWT SP early. According to some embodiments, ending the particular TWT SP early includes the communication devices exchanging one or more packets to end the TWT SP early.

[0200] The first communication device ends a specific TWT SP in advance, and the TWT SP is used for a specific communication link among a plurality of communication links corresponding to a corresponding frequency segment. In some embodiments, ending the specific TWT SP in advance is performed independently of one or more other TWT schedules (if any) and / or TWT SPs (if any) of any other communication links among the plurality of communication links. For example, in some embodiments, the first communication device ends the specific TWT SP of the specific communication link in advance when there are no other TWT schedules for any other communication link used with the second communication device. As another example, in some embodiments, when another TWT schedule for another communication link exists, the first communication device ends the specific TWT SP of the specific communication link in advance without ending the other TWT SP of the other communication link in advance.

[0201] In other embodiments, the early termination of the TWT SP of a particular communication link is not performed independently of one or more other TWT SPs of other communication links in the plurality of communication links. As an illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously terminates the TWT SPs of all communication links in advance. As another illustrative example, the first communication device simultaneously terminates the TWT SPs of a first group of several communication links in advance without terminating one or more other TWT SPs of a second group of communication links in advance.

[0202] As described above, at least in some embodiments, TWT negotiation, TWT teardown, TWT suspension, TWT resumption, TWT parameter change and / or early termination of TWT SP involve packet communication between communication devices. For example, at least in some embodiments, a first communication device transmits a frame regarding a TWT management operation, such as TWT negotiation, TWT teardown, TWT suspension, TWT resumption, TWT parameter change or early termination of TWT SP related to one or more communication links, to a second communication device within a packet. According to one embodiment, the frame includes one or more corresponding indications of one or more communication links corresponding to the TWT management operation. For example, the frame includes a bitmap, and the corresponding bit positions in the bitmap correspond to the corresponding communication links to indicate the (multiple) communication links corresponding to the TWT management operation. For example, according to one embodiment, the first communication device settings (e.g., network interface 122 settings, MAC processor 126 settings, client energy saving controller 142 settings, network interface 162 settings, MAC processor 166 settings, energy saving controller 192 settings, network interface 300 communication, etc.) corresponding to the (multiple) communication links corresponding to the TWT management operation are a first value, while the first communication device settings (e.g., network interface 122 settings, MAC processor 126 settings, client energy saving controller 142 settings, network interface 162 settings, MAC processor 166 settings, energy saving controller 192 settings, network interface 300 settings, etc.) corresponding to the (multiple) communication links that do not correspond to the TWT management operation are a second value.

[0203] In some embodiments, when a frame is for a TWT management operation that applies to all communication links used by a communication device, the frame includes an indication that the management operation applies to all communication links used by the communication device.

[0204] In some embodiments in which a frame regarding a TWT management operation includes an indication of a first communication link corresponding to the TWT management operation (or an indication of a group of communication links including the first communication link), in a second communication link, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, and so on) the frame. In some embodiments, the second communication link is a negotiation link, and the frame regarding the TWT management operation needs to be transmitted in the negotiation link.

[0205] In some embodiments in which a frame regarding a TWT management operation includes an indication of a first communication link corresponding to the TWT management operation (or an indication of a group of communication links including the first communication link), in a second communication link, the first communication device transmits (e.g., network interface 122 transmits, PHY processor 130 transmits, network interface 162 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the frame.

[0206] In one embodiment, when negotiating a TWT schedule, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to a negotiation of a TWT schedule, ii) includes one or more parameters of the schedule (e.g., TWT start time, TWT time period and / or TWT SP duration, etc.), and iii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the TWT schedule, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0207] In one embodiment, when negotiating a TWT schedule, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to a negotiation of a TWT schedule, ii) includes one or more parameters of the schedule (e.g., TWT start time, TWT time period and / or TWT SP duration, etc.), and iii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the TWT schedule, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0208] In one embodiment, when a TWT schedule is dismantled, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to the dismantling of the TWT schedule, and ii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the dismantling, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0209] In one embodiment, when the TWT schedule is suspended, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to the suspension of the TWT schedule and ii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the suspension, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0210] In one embodiment, when the TWT schedule is restored, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to the restoration of the TWT schedule and ii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the restoration, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0211] In one embodiment, when the TWT schedule is changed, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client power saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the power saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame that i) indicates that the frame corresponds to a change in the TWT schedule, ii) includes one or more parameters of the schedule (e.g., TWT start time, TWT time period and / or TWT SP duration, etc.), and iii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the TWT schedule change, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0212] In one embodiment, when the TWT SP is terminated early, the first communication device generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the client energy saving controller 142, generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame, which i) indicates that the frame corresponds to the early termination of the TWT SP, and ii) includes an indication of one or more communication links corresponding to the early termination, and transmits (within a packet) the frame to the second communication device, the first communication device (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.).

[0213] Fig.13 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1300 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.13 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.13 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time Fig.13 Increases from left to right.

[0214] exist Fig.13 In the illustrated scenario, the client station is in a power saving mode with respect to both the first communication link and the second communication link. In addition, a TWT SP 1304 has been established for the first communication link, and a TWT SP 1308 has been established for the second communication link. Although the TWT SP 1304 and the TWT SP 1308 are in Fig.131304 and 1308 are shown as starting and ending at different times, but in other embodiments, TWT SP 1304 and TWT SP 1308 start at the same time and end at the same time.

[0215] During the initial portion of the TWT SP 1304, the client station is in an awake state with respect to the first communication link, and during the initial portion of the TWT SP 1308, the client station is in an awake state with respect to the second communication link. In one embodiment, the client station determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy saving controller 192 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) to end the TWT SP 1304 early and to end the TWT SP 1308 early. In response to determining to end the TWT SP 1304 early and to end the TWT SP 1308 early, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a frame 1312, the frame 1312 having an indication that the client station ends all TWT SPs early (e.g., within a MAC header of the frame 1312, within a control field within the MAC header, within a MAC frame body of the frame 1312, etc.). Additionally, frame 1312 is transmitted within a packet to the AP, client station via the second communication link (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, etc.). In another embodiment where the first communication link is a negotiation link, frame 1312 is transmitted within a packet to the AP, client station via the first communication link (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, etc.).

[0216] In one embodiment, frame 1312 is a PS-Poll frame. In other embodiments, frame 1312 is a QoS Null frame, an Action frame, or another suitable frame.

[0217] In response to receiving frame 1312, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client energy saving controller 142 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) that the client station prematurely ends TWT SP 1304 and TWT SP 1308. In addition, in response to receiving frame 1312, the AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client energy saving controller 142 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1316 of acknowledgment frame 1312.

[0218] In connection with the transmission frame 1312, before the end of the TWT SP 1304 and before the end of the TWT SP 1308, the client station transitions (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the network interface 300 transitions, etc.) at least the hardware components corresponding to the first communication link and the second communication link to the doze state. In one embodiment, in response to receiving the confirmation frame 1316, the client station transitions at least the hardware components corresponding to the first communication link and the second communication link to the doze state.

[0219] Fig.14 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1400 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.14 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.14 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time Fig.14 Increases from left to right.

[0220] exist Fig.14 In the illustrated scenario, the client station is in a power saving mode with respect to both the first communication link and the second communication link. In addition, a TWT SP 1404 has been established for the first communication link, and a TWT SP 1408 has been established for the second communication link. Although the TWT SP 1404 and the TWT SP 1408 are Fig.14 4 and 5. In the example embodiment, TWT SP 1404 and TWT SP 1408 are shown as starting and ending at different times, but in other embodiments, TWT SP 1404 and TWT SP 1408 start and end at the same time.

[0221] During TWT SP 1404, the client station is in an awake state with respect to the first communication link, and during an initial portion of TWT SP 1408, the client station is in an awake state with respect to the second communication link. In one embodiment, the client station determines (e.g., the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the energy saving controller 192 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) to prematurely end TWT SP 1408. In response to determining to prematurely end TWT SP 1408, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a frame 1412, the frame 1412 having an indication that the client station prematurely ends the TWT SP in the second communication link (e.g., within a MAC header of frame 1312, within a control field within the MAC header, within a MAC frame body of frame 1312, etc.). Additionally, frame 1312 is transmitted within a packet to the AP, client station via the second communication link (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, etc.). In another embodiment where the first communication link is a negotiation link, frame 1412 is transmitted within a packet to the AP, client station via the first communication link (e.g., network interface 162 transmits, PHY processor 170 transmits, network interface 300 transmits, etc.).

[0222] In one embodiment, frame 1412 is a PS-Poll frame. In other embodiments, frame 1412 is a QoS Null frame, an Action frame, or another suitable frame.

[0223] In one embodiment, the frame 1412 includes a bitmap, and the corresponding bit positions in the bitmap correspond to the corresponding communication links to indicate the (multiple) communication links corresponding to the early termination of the TWT SP. For example, according to one embodiment, the client station sets (e.g., the network interface 122 sets, the MAC processor 126 sets, the client energy saving controller 142 sets, the network interface 162 sets, the MAC processor 166 sets, the energy saving controller 192 sets, the network interface 300 communicates, etc.) the (multiple) bits corresponding to the (multiple) communication links corresponding to the early termination of the TWT SP to a first value, and the client station sets (e.g., the network interface 122 sets, the MAC processor 126 sets, the client energy saving controller 142 sets, the network interface 162 sets, the MAC processor 166 sets, the energy saving controller 192 sets, the network interface 300 sets, etc.) the (multiple) bits corresponding to the (multiple) communication links that do not correspond to the early termination of the TWT SP to a second value. Therefore, in one embodiment, the client station sets the first bit corresponding to the first communication link to the second value, and sets the second bit corresponding to the second communication link to the first value.

[0224] In response to receiving the frame 1412, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client power saving controller 142 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) that the client station prematurely ends the TWT SP 1408. In addition, in response to receiving the frame 1412, the AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client power saving controller 142 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1416 that confirms the frame 1412.

[0225] In connection with the transmission frame 1412, before the end of the TWT SP 1408, the client station transitions (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the network interface 300 transitions, etc.) at least the hardware component corresponding to the second communication link to the doze state. In one embodiment, in response to receiving the confirmation frame 1416, the client station transitions at least the hardware component corresponding to the first communication link and the second communication link to the doze state.

[0226] Fig.15 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1500 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.15 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.15 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time Fig.15 Increases from left to right.

[0227] exist Fig.15 In the scenario shown, the client station is in a power save mode with respect to both the first communication link and the second communication link.The client station is in a doze state with respect to the first communication link and has established a TWTSP 1508 for the second communication link.

[0228] In association with the start of the TWT SP 1508, the client station generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a frame 1512, the frame 1512 having an indication that the client station is in an awake state (e.g., within a MAC header of the frame 1312, within a control field within the MAC header, within a MAC frame body of the frame 1312, etc.). Additionally, the client station transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.) the frame 1512 to the AP via the second communication link within a packet. Transmitting the frame 1512 within the second communication link only indicates that the client station is in an awake state with respect to the second communication link.

[0229] In one embodiment, frame 1512 is a PS-Poll frame. In other embodiments, frame 1512 is a QoS Null frame, an Action frame, or another suitable frame.

[0230] In response to receiving the frame 1512 in the second communication link, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client energy saving controller 142 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) that the client station is in an awake state with respect to the second communication link. In addition, in response to receiving the frame 1512, the AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client energy saving controller 142 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1516 that confirms the frame 1512.

[0231] In association with the transmission frame 1512, the client station transitions (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the network interface 300 transitions, etc.) at least the hardware component corresponding to the second communication link to an awake state.

[0232] Fig.16 is a diagram of another example communication exchange 1600 between an AP and a client station according to another embodiment. Fig.16 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.16 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. Transmissions of a client station on a particular communication link are shown below the corresponding horizontal line, and transmissions of an AP on a particular communication link are shown above the corresponding horizontal line. In addition, time Fig.16 Increases from left to right.

[0233] exist Fig.16In the scenario shown, the client station is in a power saving mode with respect to both the first communication link and the second communication link.In addition, a TWT SP 1604 has been established for the first communication link, and a TWT SP 1608 has been established for the second communication link.

[0234] In association with the start of TWT SP 1604 and the start of TWT SP 1608, the client station generates (e.g., generated by network interface 162, generated by MAC processor 166, generated by energy saving controller 192, generated by network interface 300, etc.) frame 1612, frame 1612 having an indication that the client station is in an awake state (e.g., within a MAC header of frame 1312, within a control field within a MAC header, within a MAC frame body of frame 1312, etc.). In addition, frame 1612 is transmitted (e.g., transmitted by network interface 162, transmitted by PHY processor 170, transmitted by network interface 300, etc.) to the AP, the client station in a packet via a second communication link.

[0235] In one embodiment, frame 1612 includes a bitmap, and corresponding bit positions in the bitmap correspond to corresponding communication links to indicate communication links in which the client station is in an awake state. For example, according to one embodiment, the client station sets (e.g., the network interface 122 sets, the MAC processor 126 sets, the client energy saving controller 142 sets, the network interface 162 sets, the MAC processor 166 sets, the energy saving controller 192 sets, the network interface 300 communicates, etc.) bits corresponding to communication links in which the client station is in an awake state to a first value, and the client station sets (e.g., the network interface 122 sets, the MAC processor 126 sets, the client energy saving controller 142 sets, the network interface 162 sets, the MAC processor 166 sets, the energy saving controller 192 sets, the network interface 300 sets, etc.) bits (if any) corresponding to (multiple) communication links in which the client station is not in an awake state (e.g., in a doze state, in an off state, etc.) to a second value. Therefore, in one embodiment, the client station sets the first bit corresponding to the first communication link to the first value, and sets the second bit corresponding to the second communication link to the first value.

[0236] In one embodiment, frame 1612 is a PS-Poll frame. In other embodiments, frame 1612 is a QoS Null frame, an Action frame, or another suitable frame.

[0237] In response to receiving the frame 1612, the AP determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the client energy saving controller 142 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) that the client station is in an awake state with respect to the first communication link and the second communication link. In addition, in response to receiving the frame 1612, the AP generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the client energy saving controller 142 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) and transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, etc.) an acknowledgment frame 1616 that confirms the frame 1612.

[0238] In association with the transmission frame 1612, the client station transitions (e.g., the network interface 162 transitions, the MAC processor 166 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the energy saving controller 192 controls the network interface 162 transitions, the network interface 300 transitions, etc.) at least the hardware components corresponding to the first communication link and the second communication link to an awake state.

[0239] In some embodiments, an AP operating on several communication links corresponding to corresponding frequency segments (sometimes referred to herein as a "multi-link AP entity") is considered to be several different APs corresponding to the corresponding communication links (sometimes referred to herein as "sub-APs"). In some embodiments, each sub-AP is associated with a corresponding network address (e.g., a MAC address, a basic service set identifier (BSSID), etc.).

[0240] In some embodiments, the multi-link AP entity transmits beacon frames on all communication links. A beacon frame is a management frame that the AP transmits periodically. The beacon frame includes information about the WLAN managed by the AP. For example, according to some embodiments, the beacon frame includes capabilities and configurations about the WLAN. In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a timestamp that the client station can use to update the internal clock of the client station. In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes information about upcoming configuration changes (such as data rate changes). In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes one or more traffic indication map (TIM) elements that indicate to a corresponding client station in energy saving mode whether the AP has cached frames waiting for transmission to the corresponding client station.

[0241] In some embodiments, the multi-link AP entity transmits several instances of a single beacon frame on the corresponding communication link, wherein the single beacon frame includes information of all sub-APs. In other embodiments, the multi-link AP entity transmits several instances of the sub-AP's beacon frame on the corresponding communication link for each sub-AP, wherein the beacon frame includes information of the corresponding sub-AP.

[0242] In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a TIM element that indicates, for each client station, whether any frames associated with any communication link are buffered for the client station. Fig.17 is a diagram of example transmissions performed by a multi-link AP entity according to another embodiment. Fig.17 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.17 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. In addition, the time Fig.17 Increases from left to right.

[0243] The multi-link AP entity generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the network interface 200, etc.) a beacon frame 1704 for transmission in the first communication link. According to one embodiment, the beacon frame 1704 includes a TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames associated with any communication link. In addition, the multi-link AP transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 122, transmitted by the PHY processor 130, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.) the beacon frame 1704 within the packet via the first communication link.

[0244] In addition, the multi-link AP entity generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 200 generates, etc.) a beacon frame 1708 for transmission in the second communication link. According to one embodiment, the beacon frame 1708 includes the same TIM element included in the beacon frame 1704. In addition, the multi-link AP transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the beacon frame 1708 within the packet via the second communication link.

[0245] In some embodiments, beacon frame 1704 and beacon frame 1708 are different instances of the same beacon frame. In other embodiments, beacon frame 1704 is a different beacon frame than beacon frame 1708.

[0246] When the beacon frame 1704 is received in the first communication link and / or the beacon frame 1708 is received in the second communication link, the client station analyzes (e.g., the network interface 162 analyzes, the MAC processor 166 analyzes, the network interface 300 analyzes, etc.) the TIM element to determine whether the AP has cached any frames for the client station. If the client station determines that the AP has cached frames for the client station, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a PS-poll frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame, and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the PS-poll frame (or another suitable frame) to the AP, the client station in the packet to prompt the AP to transmit one or more cached frames to the client station. In various embodiments, the client station transmits the PS-poll frame (or another suitable frame) via one or both of the first communication link or the second communication link.

[0247] In some embodiments, Fig.17 The TIM element transmission technique is used when a multi-link AP is allowed to transmit traffic flows (each traffic flow includes MPDUs with a respective identical TID intended for a respective client station) via any of several communication links.

[0248] Fig.18 is a diagram of example transmissions performed by a multi-link AP entity according to another embodiment. Fig.18 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.18 The first communication link and the second communication link are shown. Fig.18 In one embodiment, the first communication link is a negotiation link.

[0249] The multi-link AP entity generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the network interface 200, etc.) a beacon frame 1804 for transmission in the first communication link. The beacon frame 1804 includes a first TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the first communication link. The beacon frame 1804 also includes a second TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the second communication link.

[0250] The multi-link AP transmits (eg, the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) a beacon frame 1804 within a packet via the first communication link.

[0251] In addition, the multi-link AP entity also generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 200 generates, etc.) a beacon frame 1808 for transmission in the second communication link. According to one embodiment, the beacon frame 1808 does not include the first TIM element or the second TIM element. The multi-link AP transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the beacon frame 1808 within the packet via the second communication link.

[0252] In some embodiments, beacon frame 1804 is a different beacon frame than beacon frame 1808 .

[0253] In some embodiments, when the beacon 1804 is transmitted, at least some of the client stations need to be in an awake state with respect to the first communication link.

[0254] When the beacon frame 1804 is received in the first communication link, the client station analyzes (e.g., the network interface 162 analyzes, the MAC processor 166 analyzes, the network interface 300 analyzes, etc.) i) the first TIM element to determine whether the AP has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the first communication link, and ii) the second TIM element to determine whether the AP has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the second communication link. If the client station determines that the AP has buffered frames for the client station to transmit in the first communication link, the client station generates (e.g., the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the energy saving controller 192 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a PS-poll frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame, and transmits (e.g., the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the PS-poll frame (or another suitable frame) to the AP, the client station, in a packet via the first communication link to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) via the second communication link to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link.

[0255] Similarly, if the client station determines that the AP has buffered frames for the client station to transmit in the second communication link, the client station generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a PS-Poll frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame, and transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.) the PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) to the AP via the second communication link in a packet to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the second communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) via the first communication link to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the second communication link.

[0256] In other embodiments, the AP transmits several beacon frames 1804 via the first communication link, for example, within a single packet or several packets. For example, the first beacon frame 1804 corresponds to a first sub-AP in the first communication link, and the first beacon frame 1804 is generated to include a first TIM element; and the second beacon frame 1804 corresponds to a second sub-AP in the second communication link, and the second beacon frame 1804 is generated to include a second TIM element.

[0257] In some embodiments, Fig.18 The TIM element transmission technique is used when the multi-link AP is required to transmit a first group of one or more service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with a corresponding same TID intended for a corresponding client station) via a first communication link and a second group of one or more service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with a corresponding same TID intended for a corresponding client station) via a second communication link. For example, according to one embodiment, the first TIM element corresponds to the buffered MPDUs in the first group of one or more service flows, and the second TIM element corresponds to the buffered MPDUs in the second group of one or more service flows.

[0258] Fig.19 is a diagram of example transmissions performed by a multi-link AP entity according to another embodiment. Fig.19 The horizontal lines in indicate different communication links corresponding to the respective frequency bands. In particular, Fig.19 A first communication link and a second communication link are shown. In addition, the time Fig.19 In one embodiment, the first communication link is a negotiation link.

[0259] The multi-link AP entity generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 122, generated by the MAC processor 126, generated by the network interface 200, etc.) a beacon frame 1904 for transmission in the first communication link. The beacon frame 1904 includes a first TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames that can be transmitted via any of the several communication links for the client station. The beacon frame 1904 also includes a second TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the first communication link. The beacon frame 1904 also includes a third TIM element, which indicates for each client station whether the multi-link AP entity has buffered any frames for the client station to transmit via the second communication link.

[0260] The multi-link AP transmits (eg, the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) a beacon frame 1904 within a packet via the first communication link.

[0261] In addition, the multi-link AP entity also generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 200 generates, etc.) a beacon frame 1808 for transmission in the second communication link. According to one embodiment, the beacon frame 1908 includes the first TIM element, but does not include the second TIM element or the third TIM element. The multi-link AP transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the beacon frame 1908 within the packet via the second communication link.

[0262] In some embodiments, beacon frame 1904 is a different beacon frame than beacon frame 1908 .

[0263] In some embodiments, when the beacon 1904 is transmitted, at least some of the client stations need to be in an awake state with respect to the first communication link.

[0264] When the beacon frame 1904 is received in the first communication link, the client station analyzes (e.g., the network interface 162 analyzes, the MAC processor 166 analyzes, the network interface 300 analyzes, etc.) i) a first TIM element to determine whether the AP has cached any frames for the client station to transmit via the first communication link or the second communication link, ii) a second TIM element to determine whether the AP has cached any frames for the client station to transmit via the first communication link, and iii) a third TIM element to determine whether the AP has cached any frames for the client station to transmit via the second communication link. If the client station determines that the AP has buffered frames for the client station to transmit in the first communication link, the client station generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a PS-Poll frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame, and transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.) the PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) to the AP via the first communication link in a packet to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) via the second communication link to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link.

[0265] Similarly, if the client station determines that the AP has buffered frames for the client station to transmit in the second communication link, the client station generates (e.g., generated by the network interface 162, generated by the MAC processor 166, generated by the energy saving controller 192, generated by the network interface 300, etc.) a PS-Poll frame, a QoS null frame, or another suitable frame, and transmits (e.g., transmitted by the network interface 162, transmitted by the PHY processor 170, transmitted by the network interface 300, etc.) the PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) to the AP via the second communication link in a packet to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the second communication link. In another embodiment, the client station transmits a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) via the first communication link to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the second communication link.

[0266] Similarly, if the client station determines that the AP has buffered frames for the client station for transmission in the first communication link or the second communication link, the client station generates (e.g., generated by network interface 162, generated by MAC processor 166, generated by energy saving controller 192, generated by network interface 300, etc.) one or both of i) a first PS-Poll frame (or a QoS null frame or another suitable frame) and ii) a second PS-Poll frame (or a QoS null frame or another suitable frame), and transmits to the AP in a packet via the first communication link (e.g., transmitted by network interface 162, transmitted by PHY processor 170, transmitted by network interface 300, etc.) i) the first PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link, and / or transmits to the AP in a packet via the second communication link (e.g., transmitted by network interface 162, transmitted by PHY processor 170, transmitted by network interface 300, etc.) ii) a second PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) to prompt the AP to transmit one or more buffered frames to the client station via the first communication link.

[0267] In some embodiments, if the client station generates a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) associated with the second TIM element, the client station does not generate another PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) for the first communication link associated with the first TIM element. Similarly, in some embodiments, if the client station generates a PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) associated with the third TIM element, the client station does not generate another PS-Poll frame (or another suitable frame) for the second communication link associated with the first TIM element.

[0268] In other embodiments, the AP transmits several beacon frames 1904 via the first communication link, for example, within a single packet or several packets. For example, the first beacon frame 1904 corresponds to the first sub-AP in the first communication link, and the first beacon frame 1904 is generated to include the first TIM element and the second TIM element; and the second beacon frame 1904 corresponds to the second sub-AP in the second communication link, and the second beacon frame 1804 is generated to include the third TIM element and optionally the first TIM element.

[0269] In some embodiments, Fig.19The TIM element transmission technology is used when the multi-link AP is required to transmit a first group of one or more service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same corresponding TID intended for the corresponding client station) via a first communication link and a second group of one or more service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same corresponding TID intended for the corresponding client station) via a second communication link, and is allowed to transmit a third group of one or more service flows (each service flow includes MPDUs with the same corresponding TID intended for the corresponding client station) via the first communication link or the second communication link. For example, according to one embodiment, the second TIM element corresponds to the buffered MPDUs in the first group of one or more service flows, the third TIM element corresponds to the buffered MPDUs in the second group of one or more service flows, and the first TIM element corresponds to the buffered MPDUs in the third group of one or more service flows.

[0270] Fig. 20 2000 is a flowchart of an example method for a first communication device to notify a second communication device whether the first communication device has buffered frames for the second communication device according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to implement the method 2000, and reference is made only for the purpose of explanation. Figure 1 To describe Fig. 20 In other embodiments, the method 2000 is implemented by another suitable communication device. In some embodiments, the method 2000 is combined with Figure 4 In other embodiments, the method 2000 is not combined with Figure 4 The method 400 is implemented.

[0271] At box 2004, the first communication device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communication link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communication link selection controller 190 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) whether the first communication device has cached any frames for any of the second communication devices that can be transmitted via any of the several communication links corresponding to the corresponding frequency segment.

[0272] In response to determining at block 2004 that the first communication device has buffered one or more frames that can be transmitted via any of the several communication links for any of the second communication devices, the process proceeds to block 2008. At block 2008, the first communication device generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a first TIM element, the first TIM element indicating for each second communication device whether the first communication device has buffered any frames that can be transmitted via any of the several communication links for the second communication device. The process then proceeds to block 2012.

[0273] Additionally, in response to determining at block 2004 that the first communications device has not cached at least one frame for any of the second communications devices that may be transmitted via any of the several communications links, flow also proceeds to block 2012. At block 2012, the first communications device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communications link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communications link selection controller 190 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) whether the first communications device has cached any frames for any of the second communications devices that are to be transmitted only via the first of the several communications links.

[0274] In response to determining at block 2012 that the first communication device has buffered one or more frames to be transmitted only via the first communication link for any of the second communication devices, the flow proceeds to block 2016. At block 2016, the first communication device generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a second TIM element, the second TIM element indicating for each second communication device whether the first communication device has buffered any frames to be transmitted only via the first communication link for the second communication device. The flow then proceeds to block 2020.

[0275] Additionally, in response to determining at block 2012 that the first communications device has not cached at least one frame for any of the second communications devices to be transmitted via any of only the first communications links, the flow also proceeds to block 2020. At block 2020, the first communications device determines (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the communications link selection controller 140 determines, the network interface 162 determines, the MAC processor 166 determines, the communications link selection controller 190 determines, the network interface 300 determines, etc.) whether the first communications device has cached any frames for any of the second communications devices to be transmitted via only the second of the several communications links.

[0276] In response to determining at block 2020 that the first communication device has buffered one or more frames to be transmitted only via the second communication link for any of the second communication devices, the flow proceeds to block 2024. At block 2024, the first communication device generates (e.g., the network interface 122 generates, the MAC processor 126 generates, the network interface 162 generates, the MAC processor 166 generates, the network interface 300 generates, etc.) a third TIM element, the third TIM element indicating for each second communication device whether the first communication device has buffered any frames to be transmitted only via the second communication link for the second communication device. The flow then proceeds to block 2028.

[0277] Additionally, in response to determining at block 2020 that the first communications device has not buffered at least one frame for any of the second communications devices to be transmitted via only any of the second communications links, the flow also proceeds to block 2028 .

[0278] At block 2028, if the first TIM is generated at block 2008, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the first TIM via some (e.g., all) of the several communication links. In another embodiment, in response to determining at block 2004 that the first communication device has buffered one or more frames that can be transmitted via any of the several communication links for any of the second communication devices, the first communication device transmits (at block 2028) the first TIM via some (e.g., all) of the several communication links.

[0279] At block 2032, if the second TIM was generated at block 2016, the first communications device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the second TIM only via the first communications link. In another embodiment, in response to determining at block 2012 that the first communications device has buffered one or more frames for any of the second communications devices that will be transmitted only via the first communications device, the first communications device transmits (at block 2032) the second TIM only via the first communications link.

[0280] At block 2036, if the third TIM is generated at block 2024, the first communication device transmits (e.g., the network interface 122 transmits, the PHY processor 130 transmits, the network interface 162 transmits, the PHY processor 170 transmits, the network interface 300 transmits, etc.) the third TIM only via the first communication link. In another embodiment, in response to determining at block 2020 that the first communication device has buffered one or more frames to be transmitted only via the second communication link for any of the second communication devices, the first communication device transmits (at block 2036) the third TIM only via the first communication link. In some embodiments, the third TIM is transmitted only via the second communication link at block 2036.

[0281] In some embodiments, the first TIM, the second TIM, and the third TIM are included in one or more beacon frames, such as those described above with reference to Fig.19 Descriptive.

[0282] Embodiment 1: A method for communicating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the WLAN utilizes a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band, the method comprising:

[0283] determining, at the first communication device, whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to a first WLAN communication link among the plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state;

[0284] determining, at the first communication device, whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to a second WLAN communication link among the plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state, wherein when the second communication device is not in the power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, the second communication device is allowed to be in the power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, and wherein when the second communication device is not in the power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, the second communication device is allowed to be in the power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and

[0285] Communicating, by a first communication device, with a second communication device via at least one of i) a first WLAN communication link and ii) a second WLAN communication link, includes communicating with the second communication device based on: i) determining whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) determining whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0286] Embodiment 2. The method according to embodiment 1 further comprises:

[0287] In response to determining that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, determining at the first communication device whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and

[0288] In response to determining that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, determining at the first communication device whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link, wherein whether the second communication device is in the doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link is independent of whether the second communication device is in the doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link;

[0289] Wherein the communication with the second communication device is further based on: i) when the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) when the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0290] Embodiment 3. The method according to embodiment 2, wherein determining whether the second communication device is in a dozing state with respect to the second WLAN communication link comprises:

[0291] A packet transmitted by the second communication device is received at the first communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information indicating whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0292] Embodiment 4. The method according to any one of embodiments 2 and 3 further includes, when the second communication device is in a dozing state with respect to the second WLAN communication link:

[0293] The first communication device transmits a packet to the second communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information for prompting the second communication device to transition to a wake-up state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0294] Embodiment 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein determining whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link comprises:

[0295] A packet transmitted by the second communication device is received at the first communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information indicating whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0296] Embodiment 6. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3 and 5 further includes, when the first communication determines that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link:

[0297] A packet is transmitted by the first communication device to the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information requesting the second communication device to transition to an active mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0298] Embodiment 7. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, further comprising:

[0299] Determine at the first communication device that the second communication device is in a closed state with respect to a second WLAN communication link; and transmit a packet by the first communication device to the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information requesting the second communication device to transition to an open state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0300] Embodiment 8. A first communication device includes:

[0301] A wireless network interface device is configured to communicate via multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) communication links in corresponding frequency bands. The wireless network interface device includes one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to: determine whether a second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a first WLAN communication link among the multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state; determine whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to a second WLAN communication link among the multiple WLAN communication links, wherein the energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication includes an awake state and a doze state, wherein whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link is independent of whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and communicate with the second communication device via at least one of i) the first WLAN communication link and ii) the second WLAN communication link, including communicating with the second communication device according to the following items: i) determining whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) determining whether the second communication device is in an energy saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0302] Embodiment 9. The first communication device according to embodiment 8, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0303] In response to determining that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link;

[0304] In response to determining that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link, wherein whether the second communication device is in the doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link is independent of whether the second communication device is in the doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link; and

[0305] Also communicating with the second communication device based on: i) when the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the first WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the first WLAN communication link, and ii) when the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link, determining whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0306] Embodiment 10. The first communication device according to embodiment 9, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0307] receiving a packet transmitted by the second communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information indicating whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link; and

[0308] The information in the packet is used to determine whether the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0309] Embodiment 11. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 9 or 10, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to, when the second communication device is in a doze state with respect to the second WLAN communication link:

[0310] A packet is transmitted to the second communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information for prompting the second communication device to transition to an awake state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0311] Embodiment 12. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 8 to 11, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0312] receiving a packet transmitted by the second communication device via only the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information indicating whether the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link; and

[0313] The information in the packet is used to determine whether the second communication device is in a power save mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0314] Embodiment 13. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 8 to 10 or 12, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to, when the first communication device determines that the second communication device is in a power saving mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link:

[0315] A packet is transmitted to the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information requesting the second communication device to transition to an active mode with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0316] Embodiment 14. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 8 to 13, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0317] determining that the second communication device is in a closed state with respect to the second WLAN communication link; and

[0318] A packet is transmitted to the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link, wherein the packet includes information requesting the second communication device to transition to an on state with respect to the second WLAN communication link.

[0319] Embodiment 15. A method for communicating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the WLAN utilizing multiple WLAN communication links in corresponding frequency bands, the method comprising:

[0320] A first target wake time (TWT) protocol is negotiated by a first communication device and a second communication device, including negotiating i) a first time period of a TWT service period (SP) of the first TWT protocol and ii) a first duration of each TWT SP of the first TWT protocol, the first TWT protocol being used for a first WLAN communication link among a plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the TWT SP of the first TWT protocol corresponds to a plurality of time segments during which the second communication device is to be in a wake-up state associated with the first WLAN communication link;

[0321] A second TWT protocol is negotiated by the first communication device and the second communication device, including negotiating i) a second time period of TWT SPs of the second TWT protocol and ii) a second duration of each TWT SP of the second TWT protocol, the second TWT protocol being used for a second WLAN communication link, wherein the TWT SPs of the second TWT protocol correspond to a plurality of time segments during which the second communication device is to be in a wake-up state associated with the second WLAN communication link, and wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: i) the first time period is allowed to be different from the second time period, and ii) the first duration is allowed to be different from the second duration;

[0322] The first communication device communicates with the second communication device via the first WLAN communication link according to the first TWT protocol; and

[0323] The first communication device communicates with the second communication device via the second WLAN communication link according to the second TWT protocol.

[0324] Embodiment 16. The method according to embodiment 15, wherein:

[0325] Negotiating the second TWT protocol with the second communication device includes transmitting one or more frames corresponding to the negotiated second TWT protocol via the first WLAN communication link, including transmitting the one or more frames to the second communication device.

[0326] Embodiment 17. The method according to embodiment 16, wherein:

[0327] Transmitting one or more frames corresponding to negotiating the second TWT protocol includes transmitting, via the first WLAN communication link, frames including negotiation information for i) negotiating the first TWT protocol and ii) negotiating the second TWT protocol.

[0328] Embodiment 18. The method according to embodiment 17, wherein:

[0329] Transmitting frames corresponding to i) negotiating a first TWT protocol and ii) negotiating a second TWT protocol includes transmitting frames including a bitmap having: i) a first bit corresponding to the first WLAN communication link and set to indicate that the frame includes negotiation information corresponding to the first WLAN communication link; and ii) a second bit corresponding to the second WLAN communication link and set to indicate that the frame includes negotiation information corresponding to the second WLAN communication link.

[0330] Embodiment 19. A first communication device includes:

[0331] A wireless network interface device is configured to communicate via a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to:

[0332] negotiating a first target wake time (TWT) protocol with a second communication device, comprising negotiating: i) a first time period of a TWT service period (SP) of the first TWT protocol and ii) a first duration of each TWT SP of the first TWT protocol, the first TWT protocol being used for a first WLAN communication link of a plurality of WLAN communication links, wherein the TWT SP of the first TWT protocol corresponds to a plurality of time segments during which the second communication device is to be in a wake state associated with the first WLAN communication link;

[0333] negotiating a second TWT protocol with a second communication device, including negotiating i) a second time period of TWT SPs of the second TWT protocol and ii) a second duration of each TWT SP of the second TWT protocol, the second TWT protocol being used for a second WLAN communication link, wherein the TWT SPs of the second TWT protocol correspond to a plurality of time segments during which the second communication device is to be in a wake-up state associated with the second WLAN communication link, and wherein at least one of the following is satisfied: i) allowing the first time period to be different from the second time period, and ii) allowing the first duration to be different from the second duration;

[0334] communicating with a second communication device via a first WLAN communication link according to a first TWT protocol; and

[0335] Communicate with the second communication device via the second WLAN communication link according to the second TWT protocol.

[0336] Embodiment 20. The first communication device according to embodiment 19, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0337] Transmitting one or more frames corresponding to the negotiated second TWT protocol via the first WLAN communication link includes transmitting the one or more frames to the second communication device.

[0338] Embodiment 21. The first communication device according to embodiment 20, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0339] generating a single frame including negotiation information for i) negotiating a first TWT protocol and ii) negotiating a second TWT protocol; and

[0340] A single frame is transmitted via the first WLAN communication link.

[0341] Embodiment 22. The first communication device according to embodiment 20, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0342] A single frame is generated that includes a bitmap having: i) a first bit that corresponds to a first WLAN communication link and is set to indicate that the single frame includes negotiation information corresponding to the first WLAN communication link; and ii) a second bit that corresponds to a second WLAN communication link and is set to indicate that the single frame includes negotiation information corresponding to the second WLAN communication link.

[0343] Embodiment 23. A method for transmitting a service flow in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the WLAN utilizes multiple WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band, the method comprising:

[0344] determining, at the first communication device, whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow;

[0345] In response to determining that a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first traffic flow, transmitting, by the first communication device, packets in the first traffic flow only via the specific WLAN communication link; and

[0346] In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted by the first communication device via the plurality of WLAN communication links.

[0347] Embodiment 24. The method according to embodiment 23, further comprising:

[0348] In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, determining at the first communication device whether all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link; and

[0349] In response to determining that all packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link, transmitting, by the first communication device, packets in the first service flow via only one WLAN communication link;

[0350] Wherein transmitting packets in the first traffic flow via the several WLAN communication links is also responsive to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow will not be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link.

[0351] Embodiment 25. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 or 24, further comprising:

[0352] A packet is transmitted by a first communication device with a single Traffic Indication Map (TIM), the TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

[0353] Embodiment 26. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 or 24, further comprising:

[0354] Transmitted by a first communication device i) a first traffic indication map (TIM) including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted only via the first WLAN communication link, and ii) a second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted only via the second WLAN communication link.

[0355] Embodiment 27. The method according to embodiment 26, further comprising:

[0356] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device via the first WLAN communication link.

[0357] Embodiment 28. The method according to embodiment 27, further comprising:

[0358] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device in respective beacon frames.

[0359] Embodiment 29. The method according to embodiment 27, further comprising:

[0360] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single packet by the first communication device.

[0361] Embodiment 30. The method according to embodiment 29, further comprising:

[0362] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device in a single beacon frame.

[0363] Embodiment 31. The method according to embodiment 23, further comprising:

[0364] In response to determining that the first traffic flow will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link, transmitting, by the first communication device, a first traffic indication map (TIM), the first TIM including information only about frames that will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link and are buffered at the first communication device; and

[0365] In response to determining that packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, packets with a second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device, the second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, wherein the second TIM includes information about frames in the first service flow and frames in the second service flow to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0366] Embodiment 32. A first communication device, comprising:

[0367] A wireless network interface device is configured to communicate via a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to:

[0368] determining whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with the second communication device for the first service flow,

[0369] In response to determining that a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first traffic flow, transmitting packets in the first traffic flow only via the specific WLAN communication link, and

[0370] In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted via the plurality of WLAN communication links.

[0371] Embodiment 33. The first communication device according to embodiment 32, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0372] In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, determining whether all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link; and

[0373] In response to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link, transmitting packets in the first traffic flow via only one WLAN communication link;

[0374] Wherein transmitting packets in the first traffic flow via the several WLAN communication links is also responsive to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow will not be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link.

[0375] Embodiment 34. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 32 or 33, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0376] A packet is transmitted with a single TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

[0377] Embodiment 35. The first communication device according to any one of embodiments 32 or 33, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0378] Transmitting i) a first TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted only via the first WLAN communication link and ii) a second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted only via the second WLAN communication link.

[0379] Embodiment 36. The first communication device according to embodiment 35, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0380] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted via the first WLAN communication link.

[0381] Embodiment 37. The first communication device according to embodiment 36, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0382] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in respective beacon frames.

[0383] Embodiment 38. The first communication device according to embodiment 36, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0384] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single packet.

[0385] Embodiment 39. The first communication device according to embodiment 38, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0386] The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single beacon frame.

[0387] Embodiment 40. The first communication device according to embodiment 32, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0388] In response to determining that the first traffic flow will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link, transmitting a first TIM including information only about frames that will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link and are buffered at the first communication device; and

[0389] In response to determining that packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, packets with a second TIM are transmitted, the second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links, wherein the second TIM includes information about frames in the first service flow and frames in the second service flow to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0390] Embodiment 41. A method for transmitting a group-addressed frame in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the WLAN utilizing a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment, the method comprising:

[0391] determining, at the first communication device, whether a group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the group-addressed frame being intended for a plurality of second communication devices in the WLAN;

[0392] In response to determining that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via the plurality of WLAN communication links, transmitting, by the first communication device, a plurality of instances of the group-addressed frame via corresponding ones of the plurality of WLAN communication links, comprising: transmitting a first instance of the group-addressed frame via a first one of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the first instance of the group-addressed frame having a sequence number set to a value; and transmitting a second instance of the group-addressed frame via a second one of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the second instance of the group-addressed frame having the sequence number set to the value; and

[0393] In response to determining that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted only via a single WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the group addressed frame is transmitted by the first communication device only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0394] Embodiment 42. The method of embodiment 41, wherein determining whether a group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of WLAN communication links comprises:

[0395] determining, at the first communication device, whether all of the plurality of second communication devices are in an active mode with respect to the single WLAN communication link; and

[0396] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are not in an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link, it is determined that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0397] Embodiment 43. The method of embodiment 42, wherein determining whether the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of WLAN communication links further comprises:

[0398] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are in an active mode with respect to the single WLAN communication link, it is determined that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0399] Embodiment 44. The method of Embodiment 41, wherein determining whether a group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of WLAN communication links comprises:

[0400] determining, at the first communication device, whether all of the plurality of second communication devices are in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link or ii) an awake mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link; and

[0401] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are not in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link and ii) an awake mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link, determining that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0402] Embodiment 45. The method of embodiment 44, wherein determining whether the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of WLAN communication links further comprises:

[0403] In response to determining that all of the plurality of second communication devices are in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link and ii) an awake mode with respect to the single WLAN communication link, determining that the group addressed frame will be transmitted only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0404] Embodiment 46. A first communication device, comprising:

[0405] A wireless network interface device is configured to communicate via a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band. The wireless network interface device includes one or more IC devices, and the one or more IC devices are configured to:

[0406] determining whether a group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via a number of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the group-addressed frame being intended for a plurality of second communication devices in the WLAN, and

[0407] In response to determining that the group-addressed frame is to be transmitted via the number of WLAN communication links, transmitting several instances of the group-addressed frame via corresponding WLAN communication links in the number of WLAN communication links, including:

[0408] transmitting a first instance of the group addressed frame via a first WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the first instance of the group addressed frame having a sequence number set to a value, and

[0409] A second instance of the group addressed frame is transmitted via a second WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, the second instance of the group addressed frame having a sequence number set to the value.

[0410] Wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to, in response to determining that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted only via the single WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, transmit the group addressed frame only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0411] Embodiment 47. The first communication device according to embodiment 46, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0412] determining whether all of the plurality of second communication devices are in an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link; and

[0413] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are not in an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link, it is determined that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0414] Embodiment 48. The first communication device according to embodiment 47, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0415] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are in an active mode with respect to the single WLAN communication link, it is determined that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0416] Embodiment 49. The first communication device according to embodiment 46, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0417] determining whether all of the plurality of second communication devices are in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link or ii) an awake mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link; and

[0418] In response to determining that all second communication devices of the plurality of second communication devices are not in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link and ii) an awake mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link, determining that the group addressed frame is to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

[0419] Embodiment 50. The first communication device according to embodiment 59, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0420] In response to determining that all of the plurality of second communication devices are in at least one of: i) an active mode with respect to a single WLAN communication link and ii) an awake mode with respect to the single WLAN communication link, determining that the group addressed frame will be transmitted only via the single WLAN communication link.

[0421] Embodiment 51. A method for receiving a group-addressed frame in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the WLAN utilizing a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency segment, the method comprising:

[0422] receiving, at a first communication device via a first WLAN communication link of a plurality of WLAN communication links, a first set of addressed frames intended for the first communication device and one or more second communication devices in the WLAN;

[0423] setting the stored group addressed sequence number as a sequence number in a first group addressed frame at the first communication device;

[0424] receiving, at the first communication device via a second WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, a second set of addressed frames intended for the first communication device and one or more second communication devices in the WLAN;

[0425] comparing, at the first communications device, a sequence number in the second group addressed frame with a stored group addressed sequence number; and

[0426] In response to determining that the sequence number in the second group addressed frame is less than or equal to the stored group addressed sequence number, the second group addressed frame is discarded by the first communications device.

[0427] Embodiment 52. The method according to embodiment 51, further comprising:

[0428] before setting the stored group addressed sequence number as the sequence number in the first group addressed frame, comparing, at the first communications device, the sequence number in the first group addressed frame with a previous value of the stored group addressed sequence number;

[0429] Wherein setting the stored group addressed sequence number to the sequence number in the first group addressed frame is responsive to determining that the sequence number in the first group addressed frame is greater than a previous value of the stored group addressed sequence number.

[0430] Embodiment 53. The method according to embodiment 51, wherein:

[0431] Receiving a first group addressed frame via the first WLAN communications link comprises receiving a first instance of the same group addressed frame via the first WLAN communications link; and

[0432] Receiving a second group addressed frame via the second WLAN communications link includes receiving a second instance of the same group addressed frame via the second WLAN communications link.

[0433] Embodiment 54. A first communication device comprises:

[0434] A wireless network interface device is configured to communicate via a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band, the wireless network interface device having one or more IC devices, the one or more IC devices being configured to:

[0435] receiving, via a first WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, a first set of addressed frames intended for the first communication device and one or more second communication devices in the WLAN,

[0436] setting the stored group addressing sequence number to the sequence number in the first group addressing frame,

[0437] receiving, via a second WLAN communication link of the plurality of WLAN communication links, a second set of addressed frames intended for the first communication device and one or more second communication devices in the WLAN,

[0438] comparing the sequence number in the second group addressed frame with the stored group addressed sequence number, and

[0439] In response to determining that the sequence number in the second group addressed frame is less than or equal to the stored group addressed sequence number, the second group addressed frame is discarded.

[0440] Embodiment 55. The first communication device according to embodiment 54, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0441] before setting the stored group addressed sequence number to the sequence number in the first group addressed frame, comparing the sequence number in the first group addressed frame to a previous value of the stored group addressed sequence number;

[0442] Wherein setting the stored group addressed sequence number to the sequence number in the first group addressed frame is responsive to determining that the sequence number in the first group addressed frame is greater than a previous value of the stored group addressed sequence number.

[0443] Embodiment 56. The first communication device according to embodiment 54, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:

[0444] receiving, via the first WLAN communications link, a first group addressed frame as a first instance of the same group addressed frame received via the first WLAN communications link; and

[0445] A second group addressed frame is received via the second WLAN communications link as a second instance of the same group addressed frame received via the second WLAN communications link.

[0446] At least some of the various blocks, operations, and techniques described above may be implemented using hardware, a processor executing firmware instructions, a processor executing software instructions, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a processor executing software or firmware instructions, the software or firmware instructions may be stored in any suitable computer-readable memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc. The software or firmware instructions may include machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform various actions.

[0447] When implemented in hardware, the hardware may include one or more of discrete components, integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), and the like.

[0448] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these embodiments are only intended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention, but changes, additions and / or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a service flow in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the WLAN utilizes a plurality of WLAN communication links in a corresponding frequency band, the method comprising: determining, at the first communication device, whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow; In response to determining that the specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first service flow, transmitting, by the first communication device, packets in the first service flow only via the specific WLAN communication link; and In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted by the first communication device via a number of WLAN communication links.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, determining at the first communication device whether all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link; and In response to determining that all packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link, transmitting, by the first communication device, packets in the first service flow via only the one WLAN communication link; The transmitting of the packets in the first service flow via a plurality of WLAN communication links further comprises: In response to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow are not to be transmitted via only the one WLAN communication link, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A packet with a single traffic indication map TIM is transmitted by the first communication device, the TIM comprising information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first communication device transmits i) a first traffic indication mapping TIM and ii) a second TIM, wherein the first TIM includes information about frames that are buffered at the first communication device and will be transmitted only via the first WLAN communication link, and the second TIM includes information about frames that are buffered at the first communication device and will be transmitted only via the second WLAN communication link.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device via the first WLAN communication link.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communications device in corresponding beacon frames.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single packet by the first communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted by the first communications device in a single beacon frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: In response to determining that the first traffic flow will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link, transmitting, by the first communication device, a first traffic indication map TIM, the first TIM including information only about frames that will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link and are buffered at the first communication device; as well as In response to determining that packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, packets with a second TIM are transmitted by the first communication device, the second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, wherein the second TIM includes information about frames in the first service flow and frames in the second service flow to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

10. A first communication device, comprising: A wireless network interface device, configured to communicate via a plurality of wireless local area network (WLAN) communication links in a corresponding frequency band, the wireless network interface device having one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, the one or more IC devices being configured to: determining whether a specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated with the second communication device for the first service flow, In response to determining that the specific WLAN communication link has been negotiated for the first traffic flow, transmitting packets in the first traffic flow only via the specific WLAN communication link, and In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted via a number of WLAN communication links.

11. The first communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: In response to determining that a WLAN communication link has not been negotiated with the second communication device for the first traffic flow, determining whether all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link; and In response to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow are to be transmitted via only one WLAN communication link, transmitting packets in the first traffic flow via only the one WLAN communication link; The transmitting of the packets in the first service flow via a plurality of WLAN communication links further comprises: In response to determining that all packets in the first traffic flow are not to be transmitted via only the one WLAN communication link, packets in the first traffic flow are transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

12. The first communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: A packet is transmitted with a single traffic indication map TIM, the TIM comprising information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links.

13. The first communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: Transmitting i) a first traffic indication mapping TIM and ii) a second TIM, wherein the first TIM includes information about frames that are buffered at the first communication device and will be transmitted only via the first WLAN communication link, and the second TIM includes information about frames that are buffered at the first communication device and will be transmitted only via the second WLAN communication link.

14. The first communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted via the first WLAN communication link.

15. The first communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in corresponding beacon frames.

16. The first communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single packet.

17. The first communication device of claim 16, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: The first TIM and the second TIM are transmitted in a single beacon frame.

18. The first communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to: In response to determining that the first traffic flow will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link, transmitting a first traffic indication map TIM, the first TIM including information only about frames that will be transmitted only via the specific WLAN communication link and are buffered at the first communication device; and In response to determining that packets in the first service flow are to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, packets with a second TIM are transmitted, the second TIM including information about frames buffered at the first communication device and to be transmitted via several WLAN communication links, wherein the second TIM includes information about frames in the first service flow and frames in the second service flow to be transmitted via the several WLAN communication links.

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