Location-aware spatial reuse

Abstract

Location-aware spatial reuse can be provided. First, an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission to be received at a device can be detected by a first access point (AP). The location of the device can then be determined. Next, based on the determined location, it can be determined that the device is out of range of the first AP. Then, in response to determining that the device is out of range of the first AP, the first AP can perform spatial reuse (SR) transmissions based on OBSS packet detection (PD) without reducing transmit (Tx) power for the transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application was filed as a PCT international patent application on November 11, 2020, and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 685,771 filed on November 15, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless access points. Background Art

[0004] In computer networking, a wireless access point (AP) is a networking hardware device that allows wireless-compatible client devices to connect to a wired network. An AP is typically connected to a router (directly or indirectly via a wired network) as a standalone device, but it can also be an integral part of the router itself. Several APs can also work together through direct wired or wireless connections or through a central system often called a wireless local area network (WLAN) controller. An AP is distinguished from a hotspot, which is a physical location where wireless access to a WLAN is available.

[0005] Before wireless networking, setting up a computer network in a business, home, or school often required running numerous cables through walls and ceilings to provide network access to all network-enabled devices in the building. With the creation of wireless access points (APs), network users were able to add devices that access the network with few or no cables. The AP typically connects directly to a wired Ethernet connection, and then uses a radio frequency link to provide a wireless connection so that other devices can use the wired connection. Most APs support connecting multiple wireless devices to a single wired connection. APs are built to support standards for sending and receiving data using these radio frequencies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0007] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the operating environment;

[0008] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method for providing location-aware spatial reuse;

[0009] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for providing location-aware spatial reuse; and

[0010] Figure 4 is a block diagram of a computing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Overview

[0012] Location-aware spatial reuse can be provided. First, an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission to be received at a device can be detected by a first access point (AP). The location of the device can then be determined. Next, based on the determined location, it can be determined that the device is out of range of the first AP. Then, in response to determining that the device is out of range of the first AP, the first AP can perform spatial reuse (SR) transmission based on OBSS packet detection (PD) without reducing transmit (Tx) power for the transmission.

[0013] The foregoing summary and the following exemplary embodiments are merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure as described and claimed. Furthermore, features and / or variations other than those described may also be provided. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to the various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the exemplary embodiments.

[0014] Example Embodiments

[0015] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. Although embodiments of the present disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, elements illustrated in the drawings may be substituted, added, or modified, and the methods described herein may be modified by replacing, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Therefore, the following detailed description does not limit the present disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

[0016] A feature set called spatial reuse (SR) may be defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard specification (e.g., Wi-Fi 6). SR may allow co-channel overlapping basic service sets (OBSSs) in a WLAN to transmit on each other in certain scenarios instead of backing off, potentially increasing network capacity. A process that may be supported by many Wi-Fi 6 devices is called SR based on OBSS data packet detection (PD). This process may involve relaxing the data packet detection threshold (above which the wireless device may be required to postpone its transmission) for packets received from other basic service sets (BSSs) up to a maximum of -62dBm (this value used to be, for example, -82dBm). This may allow devices to transmit simultaneously with OBSS transmissions using a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) received below the new threshold.

[0017] Neighboring APs in a WLAN can be assigned different channels to minimize OBSS interference. However, in some cases, there may not be a sufficient number of unique channels available, so some neighboring APs may operate on the same channel. Embodiments of the present disclosure can address situations where two or more neighboring APs operate on the same primary channel, or where two or more neighboring APs have overlapping channel widths despite having different primary channels.

[0018] While OBSS PD-based SR has the potential to increase capacity, a downside to this process may be that OBSS PD-based SR transmissions (i.e., transmissions via OBSS packets) may cause significant interference to the receiver of the OBSS transmission, which may, for example, cause reception failures and reduced throughput. The Wi-Fi 6 standard may include a process for limiting transmit (Tx) power based on the RSSI of received OBSS packets. However, despite the reduced Tx power, OBSS PD-based SR transmissions may also, in some cases, reduce the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) seen by the receiver of the original OBSS transmission, potentially introducing significant decoding errors. OBSS PD-based SR transmissions may even be received by an OBSS receiver at a higher signal strength than the original OBSS transmission signal strength.

[0019] Figure 1 An operating environment 100 is shown. Figure 1 As shown, operating environment 100 may include a first AP 105, a first microcell 110, a second AP 115, a second microcell 120, and a plurality of client devices. The plurality of client devices may include a first client device 125, a second client device 130, a third client device 135, and a fourth client device 140. Each of the plurality of client devices may include, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a personal computer, a tablet device, a mobile device, a cable modem, a cellular base station, a telephone, a remote control device, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a network computer, a mainframe, a router, or other similar microcomputer-based devices.

[0020] First AP 105 may provide wireless network access to some of the plurality of client devices (e.g., first client device 125 and third client device 135). Micro cell 110 may illustrate the coverage area of ​​first AP 105. Second AP 115 may provide wireless network access to some of the plurality of client devices (e.g., second client device 130 and fourth client device 140). Fourth client device 140 may be hidden from first AP 105 (i.e., out of range of first AP 105). Third client device 135 may be hidden from second AP 115 (i.e., out of range of second AP 115). Micro cell 120 may illustrate the coverage area of ​​second AP 115. First AP 105 and second AP 115 may implement an SR feature that allows co-channel OBSS to transmit over each other in certain scenarios instead of backing off, thereby potentially increasing network capacity.

[0021] The above-described elements of the operating environment 100 (e.g., first AP 105, second AP 115, first client device 125, second client device 130, third client device 135, and fourth client device 140) may be implemented in hardware and / or in software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or in any other circuit or system. The elements of the operating environment 100 may be implemented in circuits including discrete electronic components, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, circuits utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic components or a microprocessor. In addition, the elements of the operating environment 100 may also be implemented using other technologies (including, but not limited to, mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies) capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT. As described below with respect to Figure 4 As described in greater detail, elements of operating environment 100 may be practiced in computing device 400 .

[0022] Referring to operating environment 100, second AP 115 may transmit a frame to fourth client device 140. First AP 105 may detect that this OBSS transmission is at a receive strength less than -62 dBm but greater than -82 dBm (e.g., -74 dBm). First AP 105 may perform an SR transmission by reducing Tx power by an amount equal to the receive strength of the OBSS transmission above -82 dBm. For this example, Tx power may be reduced by 8 dBm. One potential issue is that this reduced Tx power may not be sufficient to support a normal Tx modulation rate. First AP 105 may perform an SR transmission in this case without reducing Tx power and still not cause any harmful interference to the OBSS transmission because fourth client device 140 is a hidden node to first AP 105 and potentially to all client devices associated with first AP 105. If first AP 105 does reduce Tx power, it may also need to reduce the Tx modulation rate.

[0023] In another example, second AP 115 may transmit a frame to second client device 130. First AP 105 may detect that this OBSS transmission is at a receive strength less than -62 dBm but greater than -82 dBm (e.g., -74 dBm). First AP 105 may perform an SR transmission by reducing its Tx power by an amount equal to the receive strength of the OBSS transmission above -82 dBm. For this example, the Tx power is reduced by 8 dBm. However, a potential problem is that the received signal strength of the SR transmission at second client device 130 may be harmfully high relative to the received signal strength of the original OBSS transmission from second AP 115 at second client device 130. As an example, both first AP 105 and second AP 115 may transmit at 20 dBm. For example, the path loss between first AP 105 and second AP 115 may be 94 dB. The transmission from second AP 115 is received at first AP 105 at a signal strength of -74 dBm, and vice versa. For example, the path loss between the second AP 115 and the second client device 130 may be 50 dB, and the path loss between the first AP 105 and the second client device 130 may also be 50 dB. In this example, the OBSS transmission will be received by the second client device 130 at a receive strength of -30 dBm, and the SR transmission by the first AP 105 will be received at a receive strength of -38 dBm (i.e., -38 = 20 - 8 - 50), resulting in a SINR at the second client device 130 of only 8 dB (i.e., 8 = -30 - (-38)). When SR transmission is performed on OBSS frames, embodiments of the present disclosure can minimize interference to receivers of these OBSS frames.

[0024] Based on the location of the AP and client, embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a process for mitigating the negative impact of downlink OBSS PD-based SR transmissions. The 802.11ax standard may require that the Tx power used for SR transmissions be reduced based on the RSSI of the OBSS transmission to prevent SR transmissions from interfering with OBSS transmissions. By understanding the location of the OBSS client, the Tx power of the SR transmission can be more optimally reduced, and in some cases, SR transmissions can be performed at a higher Tx power than required by the 802.11ax standard.

[0025] Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the general stages involved in a method 200 for providing location-aware spatial reuse consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, if the client or AP to which the OBSS transmission is destined is a hidden node with respect to the AP, the SR transmission may be performed at full Tx power. The method 200 may use the method described above with respect to Figure 1 The manner in which each stage of the method 200 is implemented will be described in more detail below.

[0026] The method 200 may begin at start block 205 and proceed to stage 210, where the first AP 105 may detect an OBSS transmission to be received at a device (e.g., the fourth client device 140). For example, the second AP 115 may transmit a frame (e.g., an OBSS transmission) to the fourth client device 140. The first AP 105 may detect this OBSS transmission.

[0027] Method 200 may proceed from stage 210 (where the first AP 105 detects an OBSS transmission to be received at a device) to stage 220 (where the first AP 105 may determine the location of the device (e.g., the fourth client device 140)). For example, the location of the fourth client device 140 may be determined using a positioning procedure based on BSS "color." Using this procedure, each of the multiple APs may be assigned a unique BSS color so that no two neighboring APs have the same BSS color. Using BSS Color Conflict Report frame information (e.g., as described in Section 26.17.3.2.2 of the IEEE 802.11ax standard D4.0), which contains all BSS colors seen by client devices, each AP may determine which neighboring BSSs are not hidden nodes for each client. The APs can frequently and periodically share this information and then infer which BSSs are hidden nodes for each client. When an AP detects an OBSS transmission to a client or AP that is a hidden node in the BSS, the AP can safely perform an SR transmission without backing off Tx power.

[0028] Other processes can be used to determine the location of a device in the operating environment 100. For example, the IEEE 802.11 fine timing measurement standard or the IEEE 802.11az next-generation positioning standard can be used to determine the relative location of each client device with respect to each AP. For example, the location of each AP can be determined based on deployment data. In addition, the process for determining the location of a device can be based on, for example, triangulation of estimated distances from three or more APs in the vicinity of the device when the device performs a transmission. The distance can be estimated based on the received signal strength of the transmission performed by the device and applying a path loss model.

[0029] Once the first AP 105 determines the location of the device (e.g., the fourth client device 140) in stage 220, the method 200 may proceed to stage 230 where the first AP 105 may determine that the device is out of range of the first AP 105 (i.e., hidden from the first AP 105) based on the determined location. Figure 1 , the third client device 135 may not perceive the BSS color of the BSS of the second AP 115, and the fourth client device 140 may not perceive the BSS color of the BSS of the first AP 105. The first client device 125 and the second client device 130 may perceive the BSS colors of the BSS of the first AP 105 and the BSS of the second AP 115. The BSS color information report of each client is shown in Table 1 below. The color of the BSS of the first AP 105 may be blue, and the color of the BSS of the second AP 115 may be orange. The BSS color may include a unique binary code, and the names of the colors used herein (e.g., blue and orange) may include examples that can be mapped to the unique binary codes.

[0030] Client device BSS color seen First client device 125 Blue, orange Second client device 130 Blue, orange Third client device 135 blue Fourth client device 140 orange color

[0031] Table 1

[0032] The client devices share BSS color information with their corresponding APs, and the APs then share BSS color reports of their associated client devices to determine which client devices are their hidden nodes. The first AP 105 can now determine that the fourth client device 140 is likely a hidden node, but the second client device 130 is likely not a hidden node. Similarly, the second AP 115 can determine that the third client device 135 is likely a hidden node, but the first client device 125 is likely not a hidden node.

[0033] After the first AP 105 determines in stage 230 that the device (e.g., the fourth client device 140) is out of range of the first AP 105 (i.e., hidden from the first AP 105) based on the determined location, the method 200 may proceed to stage 240, where the first AP 105 may perform an OBSS PD-based SR transmission without reducing the Tx power used for the transmission in response to determining that the device (e.g., the fourth client device 140) is out of range of the first AP. For example, when the first AP 105 detects an OBSS transmission to the fourth client device 140 (which is a node that the first AP 105 knows is hidden from the first AP 105), the first AP 105 may safely perform an SR transmission without backing off the Tx power as would be required by the 802.11ax standard for SR. This is because any transmission from the first AP 105 is unlikely to cause interference at the fourth client device 140 because the fourth client device 140 may be hidden from the first AP 105. The Tx power used for the transmission may include the highest power that the first AP 105 is capable of transmitting. Once the first AP 105 performs OBSS PD based SR transmission without reducing Tx power for transmission in stage 240 , the method 200 may then end at stage 250 .

[0034] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the general stages involved in a method 300 for providing location-aware spatial reuse consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. For OBSS transmissions to a client or AP that is not a hidden node to the AP, the SR transmission may follow rules for backing off Tx power as described by the IEEE 802.11ax standard specification. Additionally, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, if the location of the OBSS client or OBSS AP relative to the AP indicates that the path loss for the SR transmission by the AP is not large enough and may cause the SR transmission by the AP to interfere with the original OBSS transmission, the AP may further reduce the Tx power for the SR transmission or may even abort the SR transmission. If an SR transmission is scheduled, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, a rate selection algorithm may choose the optimal modulation rate to provide sufficient link margin so that the SR transmission is successfully received at a lower Tx power.

[0035] Method 300 may be used as described above with respect to Figure 1 The manner in which each stage of the method 300 is implemented will be described in more detail below.

[0036] The method 300 may begin at start block 305 and proceed to stage 310, where the first AP 105 may detect an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission to be received at a device (e.g., the second client device 130). For example, the second AP 115 may transmit a frame (e.g., an OBSS transmission) to the second client device 130. The first AP 105 may detect this OBSS transmission.

[0037] Method 300 may proceed from stage 310, where the first AP 105 detects an OBSS transmission to be received at a device (e.g., the second client device 130), to stage 320, where the first AP 105 may determine the location of the device. For example, the relative location of each client device with respect to each AP may be determined using the IEEE 802.11 fine timing measurement standard or the IEEE 802.11az next-generation positioning standard. For example, the location of each AP may be determined based on deployment data. Furthermore, the process for determining the location of the device may be based on, for example, triangulation of estimated distances by three or more APs in the vicinity of the device when the device performs a transmission. The distance may be estimated based on applying a path loss model to the received signal strength of the transmission performed by the device.

[0038] Once the first AP 105 determines the location of the device in stage 320, the method 300 may proceed to stage 330, where the first AP 105 may determine, based on the determined location, that the device (e.g., the second client device 130) is within range of the first AP 105. For example, knowing the location of the second client device 130 and knowing its own location, the first AP 105 may determine that the second client device 130 is within the first micro cell 110 and, therefore, within range of the first AP 105.

[0039] After the first AP 105 determines that the device is within range of the first AP 105 based on the determined location in stage 330, the method 300 may proceed to stage 340, in which the first AP 105 may, in response to determining that the device is within range of the first AP, determine a target Tx power for OBSS PD-based SR transmission based on a minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) value for OBSS transmission in the presence of OBSS PD-based SR transmission at the device (e.g., the second client device 130). For example, the location information may be used to estimate the path loss and SINR for OBSS transmission in the presence of SR transmission. In other words, if the location of each AP and client device is known, the path loss model may be used to estimate the path loss between each AP and the OBSS client device and between each AP and the OBSS AP.

[0040] The first AP 105 may detect the OBSS transmission from the second AP 115 and may determine the Tx power (OBSS Tx power = RSSI - path loss to the OBSS AP) used by the OBSS AP (i.e., second AP 115) to transmit to the OBSS client (e.g., second client device 130). The first AP 105 may thus determine the receiver strength of the OBSS transmission at the OBSS client (e.g., second client device 130) (OBSS Tx power - path loss between the OBSS AP and the OBSS client). The first AP 105 may then determine the receive strength (SR Tx power - path loss between the SR AP and the OBSS client) of the SR transmission (e.g., from the first AP 105) at the OBSS client and thus estimate the SINR of the OBSS transmission in the presence of the SR transmission.

[0041] Using the estimates of the above parameters, the SR AP (e.g., the first AP 105) can determine the target Tx power for the SR transmission opportunity. The minimum SINR required for OBSS transmission in the presence of SR transmission can be pre-configured, which can optionally have a different minimum SINR for each modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of the received OBSS packet. This minimum SINR can determine the target Tx power for SR transmission. If the target Tx power for SR transmission is not available for any client device associated with the SR AP, the SR transmission can be aborted. If the target Tx power for SR transmission is available for a subset of associated client devices whose traffic is queued at the SR AP, the SR transmission can be scheduled at a lower target Tx power. Additionally, the SR AP can determine the optimal MCS for SR transmission at a lower target Tx power based on the path loss estimate to the SR client.

[0042] From stage 340, in which the first AP 105 determines a target Tx power for OBSS PD-based SR transmission based on a minimum SINR value for OBSS transmission in the presence of OBSS PD-based SR transmission at the device, in response to determining that the device (e.g., the second client device 130) is within range of the first AP 105, the method 300 may proceed to stage 350, in which the first AP 105 may perform OBSS PD-based SR transmission at the target Tx power. Once the first AP 105 performs OBSS PD-based SR transmission at the target Tx power in stage 350, the method 300 may then end at stage 360.

[0043] For an AP equipped with antenna array elements (e.g., the first AP 105), consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, SR transmissions (e.g., from the first AP 105) can be scheduled to client devices (e.g., the third client device 135) in a different direction from the OBSS receiver client (e.g., the second client device 130) and can be performed using a directional antenna pattern that causes low interference at the OBSS receiver client. The AP can operate the antenna in an omnidirectional mode. However, for SR packet transmissions alone, the AP can convert the omnidirectional antenna to a directional antenna by introducing a phase shift (or by engaging additional directional antenna elements), such that, for example, the SR packets can be transmitted to the client in a different direction from the OBSS receiver at a higher Tx power without interfering with the OBSS packets sent from the second client device 115 to the OBSS receiver client (given the known AP client device location and directional beamwidth).

[0044] While the embodiments disclosed above have been directed to scheduling downlink spatial reuse transmissions, these embodiments can be applied to scheduling triggered uplink transmissions. Using the same hidden node, location, and path loss information, the AP can schedule triggered uplink transmissions, which can avoid interference with OBSS packets while optimizing TX power and MCS. Knowledge of the AP antenna pattern (directional or omnidirectional) and TX beamforming can also be taken into account to improve the accuracy of the disclosed embodiments.

[0045] Figure 4 4 shows a computing device 400. Figure 4 As shown, computing device 400 may include processing unit 410 and memory unit 415. Memory unit 415 may include software module 420 and database 425. When executed on processing unit 410, software module 420 may perform, for example, the operations described above with respect to Figure 2 and Figure 3 For example, computing device 400 may provide operating environment 115 for first AP 105, second AP, first client device 125, second client device 130, third client device 135, or fourth client device 140. First AP 105, second AP 115, first client device 125, second client device 130, third client device 135, and fourth client device 140 may operate in other environments and are not limited to computing device 400.

[0046] The computing device 400 can be implemented using a Wi-Fi access point, a cellular base station, a tablet device, a mobile device, a smartphone, a telephone, a remote control device, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, a cable modem, a personal computer, a network computer, a mainframe, a router, a switch, a server cluster, a device such as a smart TV, a network storage device, a network relay device, or other similar microcomputer-based device. The computing device 400 can include any computer operating environment, such as a handheld device, a multiprocessor system, a microprocessor-based or programmable transmitter electronic device, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, etc. The computing device 400 can also be practiced in a distributed computing environment in which tasks are performed by remote processing devices. The aforementioned systems and devices are examples and the computing device 400 can include other systems or devices.

[0047] For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or a computer-readable medium. A computer program product may be a computer storage medium that can be read by a computer system and encodes a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. A computer program product may also be a propagation signal on a carrier that can be read by a computing system and encodes a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Thus, the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and / or in software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having a computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by an instruction execution system or used in conjunction with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, transmit, propagate, or convey a program for use by an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus or used in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus.

[0048] A computer usable or computer readable medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list) may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer usable or computer readable medium may even be paper or another suitable medium with the program printed thereon, as the program can be captured electronically, for example, by optical scanning of the paper or other medium, and then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0049] While certain embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, other embodiments are possible. Furthermore, while embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage media, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, for example, hard disks, floppy disks, or CD-ROMs, carrier waves from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Furthermore, the stages of the disclosed methods may be modified in any manner, including by reordering the stages and / or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the present disclosure.

[0050] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure can be practiced in circuits including discrete electronic components, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, circuits using microprocessors, or on a single chip containing electronic components or microprocessors. The embodiments of the present disclosure can also be practiced using other technologies (including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies) that can perform logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT. In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure can be practiced in a general-purpose computer or in any other circuit or system.

[0051] You can go through Figure 1 Embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced as a system-on-chip (SOC) in which each or many of the elements illustrated in the figure can be integrated into a single integrated circuit. Such an SOC device may include one or more processing units, a graphics unit, a communication unit, a system virtualization unit, and various application functionalities, all of which can be integrated (or "burned") into a chip substrate as a single integrated circuit. When operated via the SOC, the functionality described herein with respect to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed via dedicated logic integrated on a single integrated circuit (chip) along with other components of the computing device 400.

[0052] For example, embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to block diagrams and / or operational diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The functions / behaviors indicated in the blocks may not occur in the order shown in any flowchart. For example, depending on the functionality / behaviors involved, two blocks shown in succession may actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order.

[0053] Although this specification includes examples, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims. Furthermore, although this specification has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the aforementioned features or acts. Rather, the aforementioned specific features and acts are disclosed as examples for embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising: detecting, by a first access point (AP), an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission from a second AP to be received at a device; determining, by the first AP, a location of the device; determining, by the first AP based on the determined location, that the device is out of range of the first AP; as well as In response to determining that the apparatus is out of range of the first AP, performing, by the first AP, an OBSS packet detection (PD) based spatial reuse (SR) transmission without reducing transmit (Tx) power for the transmission.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Detecting the OBSS transmission includes detecting the OBSS transmission in response to receiving the OBSS transmission from the second AP.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining, by the first AP, the location of the device based on basic service set (BSS) color information visible to the device and sent by the device to a second AP, which in turn shares the BSS color information with the first AP.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining the location of the device based on basic service set (BSS) color information visible to the device and sent by the device to the first AP through the first AP.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining the location of the device using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 fine timing measurement standard.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining the location of the device using the IEEE 802.11az next generation positioning standard.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The Tx power used for the OBSS PD-based SR transmission includes a maximum power that the first AP can transmit.

8. A method for wireless communication, comprising: detecting, by a first access point (AP), an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission from a second AP to be received at a device; determining, by the first AP, a location of the device; determining, by the first AP based on the determined location, that the device is within range of the first AP; determining, by the first AP, in response to determining that the apparatus is within range of the first AP, a target transmit (Tx) power for a spatial reuse (SR) transmission based on OBSS packet detection (PD) based SR transmission based on a minimum signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) value for the OBSS transmission in the presence of the OBSS PD based SR transmission at the apparatus; as well as The OBSS PD-based SR transmission is performed at the target Tx power by the first AP.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein Detecting the OBSS transmission includes detecting the OBSS transmission in response to receiving the OBSS transmission from the second AP.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining the location of the device using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 fine timing measurement standard.

11. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: Determining the location of the device includes determining the location of the device using an IEEE 802.11az next generation positioning standard.

12. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: Determining the target Tx power includes determining the target Tx power based on a path loss between the first AP and the device.

13. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: Determining the target Tx power includes determining the target Tx power based on a path loss between a second AP that sent the OBSS transmission and the apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: Determining the target Tx power includes determining the target Tx power based on a location of the first AP.

15. The method of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein determining the target Tx power comprises determining the target Tx power based on a location of a second AP that sent the OBSS transmission.

16. The method of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the minimum SINR value depends on a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used by the OBSS transmission.

17. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising: An optimal modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the OBSS PD-based SR transmission at the target Tx power is determined by the first AP based on a path loss estimate to a second device different from the device.

18. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising: memory storage device; as well as a processing unit disposed in a first access point (AP) and coupled to the memory storage device, wherein the processing unit is operable to: detecting an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission from a second AP to be received at the device; determining a location of the device; directing a directional pattern of at least one antenna away from a location of the apparatus; as well as OBSS Packet Detection (PD) based spatial reuse (SR) transmission is performed from the at least one antenna without reducing transmit (Tx) power for the transmission.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein The processing unit being operable to detect the OBSS transmission includes the processing unit being operable to detect the OBSS transmission in response to the first AP receiving the OBSS transmission from the second AP.

20. The system according to claim 18 or 19, wherein: The processing unit being operable to determine the position of the apparatus includes the processing unit being operable to determine the position of the apparatus using one of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 fine timing measurement standard and an IEEE 802.11az next generation positioning standard.

21. A system for wireless communication, comprising: memory storage device; as well as a processing unit disposed in a first access point (AP) and coupled to the memory storage device, wherein the processing unit is operable to: detecting an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission from a second AP to be received at the device; determining a location of the device; determining, based on the determined location, that the apparatus is within range of the first AP; In response to determining that the apparatus is within range of the first AP, determining a target transmit (Tx) power for a spatial reuse (SR) transmission based on OBSS packet detection (PD) based SR transmission based on a minimum signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) value for the OBSS transmission in the presence of the OBSS PD at the apparatus; as well as The OBSS PD-based SR transmission is performed at the target Tx power.

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