Managing hopping target wake-up times for wireless networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A station (STA) can receive a first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a target wake-up time (TWT) session set reproduced according to a service interval. In some examples, the first signal can indicate a respective frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each TWT session in the set of target wake time sessions. Each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions can have an associated service period in which the STA can be in a wake-up state. The STA can switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel for the first TWT session. In some examples, based on the handover, the STA can communicate a signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session.

Description

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 17 / 740,232, filed by Kuppa et al. on May 9, 2022, entitled “MANAGING HOPPINGTARGET WAKE TIMES FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS,” which is assigned to the assignee of this application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The following relates to wireless communications, including managing frequency channel hopping during a target wake time (TWT) session. Background Art

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and the like. These systems may be multiple access systems that can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless network (e.g., a WLAN, such as a Wi-Fi (e.g., an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11) network) may include an access point (AP) that can communicate with one or more stations (STAs) or mobile devices. An AP may be coupled to a network such as the Internet, and may enable mobile devices to communicate via the network (or communicate with other devices coupled to the AP). A wireless device may communicate bidirectionally with a network device. For example, in a WLAN, a STA may communicate with an associated AP via a downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) direction. A DL (or forward link) may refer to a communication link from an AP to a station, and a UL (or reverse link) may refer to a communication link from a station to an AP.

[0005] In some cases, an AP (e.g., a software-enabled AP (SoftAP), an infrastructure AP) operating in a self-managed network may configure multiple STAs using a TWT session during which one or more associated STAs are expected to be in an awake state. A self-managed network may be an example of a wireless network in which multiple communication devices (e.g., multiple STAs, multiple SoftAPs) may form (e.g., self-organizing) a PAN (e.g., without a centralized entity). As described herein, a self-managed network may be referred to as an extended personal area network (xPAN). In some cases, by configuring multiple STAs associated with an AP using a TWT session, the AP may manage the activities of the STAs associated with the AP within the self-managed network. In some cases, an increased number of STAs may be collocated (e.g., positioned relatively closely in space) and operated within the self-managed network, which results in increased congestion of the communication channel. In order to reduce congestion, some APs may employ a channel switch announcement (CSA) to indicate to one or more STAs in the self-managed network to switch operating frequencies, such as switching frequency channels. In some cases, by sending a CSA to indicate to one or more STAs to switch frequency channels, the current (e.g., active, previously negotiated) TWT session can be canceled, and the AP can restart (e.g., re-initiate, renegotiate) additional (e.g., subsequent) TWT sessions for one or more STAs, which may result in increased latency within the self-managed network, as well as other issues. However, in some cases, such techniques (e.g., techniques that rely on CSA to switch operating frequencies) may be strict and unsuitable for STAs with strict latency requirements. Summary of the invention

[0006] The systems, methods, and devices of the present disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single aspect of which is solely responsible for the desired properties disclosed herein. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication. The method includes receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a target wake time (TWT) session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the station (STA) is expected to be in an awake state; switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first TWT session in the TWT session set; and communicating a second signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0007] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a device for wireless communication. The device includes a processor; a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to receive a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a second signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0008] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a component for receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; a component for switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first TWT session in the TWT session set; and a component for communicating a second signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication. The code includes instructions executable by a processor to perform the following operations: receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first TWT session in the TWT session set; and communicating a second signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0010] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, communicating a second signal may include operations, features, components, or instructions for receiving a second signal from an access point (AP) on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with a first TWT session based on a switch.

[0011] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, communicating a second signal may include operations, features, components, or instructions for the following actions: sending a second signal to another STA on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with a first TWT session based on a switch.

[0012] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication. The method includes sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel for a first TWT session in the TWT session set according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0013] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a device for wireless communication. The device may include a processor; a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to send a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0014] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a component for sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; a component for sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session is performed; and a component for communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0015] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication. The code includes instructions executable by a processor to perform the following operations: sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0016] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, components, or instructions for determining a frequency hopping pattern based on monitoring channel congestion associated with a set of frequency channels, wherein sending a second signal to the STA indicating a switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel may be based on determining the frequency hopping pattern. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figures 1 to 4 Each illustrates an example of a wireless local area network (WLAN) supporting management of a transition target wake time (TWT) of a wireless network according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Each illustrates an example of a frequency channel hopping scheme supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Each illustrates an example of a process flow for supporting management of hopping TWTs for a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Fig. 9 , Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B A block diagram of a device supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Fig.11 and Fig.12 A block diagram of a device supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Fig.13 A block diagram of a communication manager supporting management of hopping TWTs for a wireless network is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Fig.14 A diagram of a system including a device that supports managing hopping TWTs for a wireless network is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] Fig.15 and Fig.16 A block diagram of a device supporting management of hopping TWTs of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Fig.17 A block diagram of a communication manager supporting management of hopping TWTs for a wireless network is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Fig.18 A diagram of a system including a device that supports managing hopping TWTs for a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0027] Figures 19 to 22 A flow chart illustrating a method for supporting management of hopping TWTs of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] An access point (AP) operating in a self-managed network (e.g., an extended personal area network, a network without a centralized entity, an extended reality (XR) network) can configure a station (STA) (e.g., a client device) with a TWT session having an associated time interval (e.g., a service period), during which the STA is generally expected to be in an awake state. For example, the AP can configure the STAs served by the AP with one or more TWT sessions, each associated with a corresponding service period and frequency. During the configured TWT session, the STA can send or receive communications to or from the AP (for example) or other STAs that can also be served by the AP, or both. Thus, the AP can manage some activities within the self-managed network and reduce the possibility of conflicts between multiple STAs (e.g., STAs served by the AP). In some cases, an increased number of STAs can be co-located (e.g., can be located in a relatively close proximity in space) and can therefore operate within the self-managed network, which can lead to increased congestion of frequency channels used for communication and other problems. In order to reduce congestion, the AP can use a channel switch announcement (CSA) scheme to indicate to one or more STAs to switch operating frequencies. For example, the AP may send a CSA to one or more STAs, and the CSA may instruct the one or more STAs to switch frequency channels (e.g., corresponding to different frequencies). However, in some cases, by sending a CSA to instruct the one or more STAs to switch frequency channels, the current (e.g., active, previously negotiated) TWT session may be canceled and the AP may restart (e.g., re-initiate, renegotiate) additional (e.g., subsequent) TWT sessions for one or more STAs, thereby increasing latency within the network, as well as other issues. However, such techniques (e.g., techniques that rely on CSA to change operating frequencies within a self-managed network) may be strict and unsuitable for STAs with strict latency requirements.

[0029] Various aspects generally relate to techniques for managing frequency hopping channels during a TWT session, and more specifically, techniques for configuring a STA to switch between frequency channels used for a TWT session. For example, an AP may configure a STA with a frequency channel set for a TWT session set (e.g., a TWT session negotiated between an AP and a STA) that recurs according to a service interval. Each TWT session in the TWT session set may be associated with a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set. The AP may monitor congestion (e.g., latency metrics, threshold metrics) for each frequency channel in the frequency channel set. Additionally or alternatively, the STA may monitor congestion at the STA (e.g., congestion metrics) and report (e.g., indicate, transmit) information associated with the monitored congestion to the AP. In some examples, based on the congestion of each frequency channel (e.g., channel conditions, such as channel conditions monitored at the AP or the STA or both), the AP may determine a hopping pattern for the TWT session set. In some examples, if the channel condition of a frequency channel associated with a given TWT session degrades (e.g., if the congestion of the frequency channel is relatively high), the AP may instruct the STA to switch the frequency channel associated with the TWT session from the current frequency channel to a second frequency channel according to a hopping pattern (e.g., for a subsequent service period of the TWT session in a subsequent service interval). In some examples, the AP may instruct the STA to switch the frequency channel associated with the TWT session via a beacon signal sent before the next service period of the TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, the AP may instruct the STA to switch the frequency channel associated with the next service period of the TWT session via a data signal (such as a quality of service (QoS) data signal), which may be sent between the AP and the STA during the current or previous service period of the TWT session. In some examples, the AP may instruct the STA to switch the frequency channel associated with the TWT session by sending (e.g., via a data signal or a beacon signal) an indication of the hopping pattern. Then, based on switching the frequency channel according to the hopping pattern, the STA may communicate (e.g., send or receive or both) a signal on the second frequency channel during the next service period associated with the TWT session.

[0030] Certain aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. The techniques employed by the described AP and STA may implement frequency channel switching for multiple TWT sessions based on associated channel conditions within a wireless network. The AP may instruct the STA to switch frequency channels to reduce latency and congestion on the frequency channels used for communication during the TWT session. In some examples, by instructing the STA to switch frequency channels for multiple TWT sessions, the AP may avoid re-initiating TWT sessions for the STA, and thereby may avoid unnecessary increases in signaling overhead for the STA. In some specific implementations, the operations performed by the AP and STA may support improvements in power consumption, communication reliability, and throughput for the AP and STA.

[0031] Aspects of the present disclosure are initially described in the context of a wireless local area network (WLAN). Aspects of the present disclosure are also described in the context of a channel hopping scheme and process flow. Aspects of the present disclosure are further illustrated and described by and with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flow charts associated with managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network.

[0032] Figure 1 A WLAN 100 (also referred to as a Wi-Fi network) configured according to various aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The WLAN 100 may include an AP 102 and a plurality of associated STAs 115, which may represent devices such as mobile stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, display devices (e.g., TVs, computer monitors), or printers. The AP 102 and associated stations 115 may represent a BSS or ESS. The various STAs 115 in the network are able to communicate with each other through the AP 102. Also shown is a coverage area 110 of the AP 102, which may represent a BSA of the WLAN 100. An extended network station (not shown) associated with the WLAN 100 may be connected to a wired or wireless distribution system that may allow multiple APs 105 to be connected in an ESS.

[0033] In WLAN 100, a communication device (e.g., AP 102) can utilize a TWT session to configure other communication devices (e.g., one or more STAs 104), wherein each STA 104 can be in an awake state. In some cases, an increased number of STAs 104 can operate within the WLAN 100, which may result in increased congestion of communication channels within the WLAN 100. In order to reduce congestion, the AP 102 can use CSA to instruct one or more STAs to switch frequency channels and switch operating frequencies. However, in some cases, by sending a CSA to instruct one or more STAs 104 to switch frequency channels, the AP 102 can re-initiate a TWT session for one or more STAs 104, which may result in increased latency within the WLAN 100. Some techniques that rely on CSA to change operating frequencies may be strict and unsuitable for STAs 104 with strict latency requirements.

[0034] In some examples, in order to reduce congestion within the WLAN 100, the AP 102 may send a first signal to the STA 104, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval. In some examples, the first signal may indicate a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the target wake-up time session set. Additionally or alternatively, each TWT session in the TWT session set may have an associated service period in which the STA 104 may be in an awake state. In some examples, the AP 102 may send another signal that indicates to the STA 104 that for the first TWT session in the TWT session set, a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal is switched to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. In response, the STA 104 may switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel for the first TWT session. In some examples, based on the switch, the STA 104 may communicate a signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session. In some examples, by switching the frequency channel used for the first TWT session, STA 104 can reduce the likelihood of conflicts within WLAN 100.

[0035] Although not in Figure 1104 is shown in FIG. 104 , but a STA 104 may be located at the intersection of more than one coverage area 110 and may be associated with more than one AP 102. A single AP 102 and a collection of associated STAs 115 may be referred to as a BSS. An ESS is a collection of connected BSSs. A distribution system (not shown) may be used to connect the APs 105 in an ESS. In some cases, the coverage area 110 of an AP 102 may be divided into sectors (also not shown). The WLAN 100 may include APs 105 of different types (e.g., urban areas, home networks) with different and overlapping coverage areas 110. Two STAs 115 may also communicate directly via a direct wireless link 125, regardless of whether the two STAs 115 are in the same coverage area 110. Examples of direct wireless links 120 may include Wi-Fi direct connections, Wi-Fi tunneling direct link setup (TDLS) links, and other group connections. The STA 115 and the AP 105 may communicate according to WLAN radio and baseband protocols for the physical layer and the MAC layer from IEEE 802.11 and versions including, but not limited to, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11ah, 802.11ax. In other implementations, peer-to-peer connections or ad hoc networks may be implemented within the WLAN 100.

[0036] In some cases, a STA 104 (or AP 102) may be detected by a central AP 102, but may not be detected by other STAs 115 in the coverage area 110 of the central AP 102. For example, one STA 104 may be at one end of the coverage area 110 of the central AP 102, while another STA 104 may be at the other end. Thus, two STAs 115 may communicate with the AP 102, but may not receive each other's transmissions. This may cause transmission conflicts between the two STAs 115 in a contention-based environment (e.g., CSMA / CA) because these STAs 115 may not suppress transmissions over each other. A STA 104 whose transmission cannot be identified but is within the same coverage area 110 may be referred to as a hidden node. CSMA / CA may be supplemented by the exchange of an RTS packet sent by a transmitting STA 104 (or AP 102) and a CTS packet sent by a receiving STA 104 (or AP 102). This can alert other devices within range of the transmitter and receiver not to transmit during the duration of the primary transmission. Thus, RTS / CTS can help alleviate the hidden node problem.

[0037] Figure 2An example of a WLAN 200 that supports a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. According to some aspects, the WLAN 200 may be an example of a WLAN. For example, the WLAN 200 may be a network that implements at least one of the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. The WLAN 200 may include a plurality of STAs 204. As described above, each STA 204 may also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), a mobile device, a mobile handset, a wireless handset, an access terminal (AT), a user equipment (UE), a subscriber station (SS), or a subscriber unit, etc. The STA 204 may represent various devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, display devices (e.g., TVs, computer monitors, navigation systems, etc.), music or other audio or stereo equipment, remote control devices ("remote controls"), printers, kitchen or other household appliances, remote control keys (key fobs) (e.g., for passive keyless entry and start (PKES) systems), etc.

[0038] WLAN 200 is an example of a peer-to-peer (P2P), ad hoc, or mesh network. STAs 204 can communicate directly with each other via P2P wireless links 210 (without using an intermediate AP). In some implementations, WLAN 200 is an example of a neighbor awareness network (NAN). NAN operates according to the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) Neighbor Awareness Network (also referred to as NAN) standard specification. NAN-compatible STAs 204 (hereinafter also referred to as "NAN devices 204") use a data packet routing protocol for path selection (such as the Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol (HWMP)) to send and receive NAN communications (for example, in the form of Wi-Fi packets, including frames that comply with IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standards (such as those defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or its amendments, including but not limited to 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be)) to and from each other via a wireless P2P link 210 (hereinafter also referred to as a "NAN link").

[0039] A NAN network generally refers to a collection of NAN devices that share a common NAN parameter set, which includes: the time period between consecutive discovery windows, the duration of the discovery window, the NAN beacon interval, and the NAN discovery channel. The NAN ID is an identifier that represents a specific NAN parameter set used within the NAN network. The NAN network is dynamically self-organizing and self-configuring. The NAN devices 204 in the network automatically establish a self-organizing network with other NAN devices 204 so that network connectivity can be maintained. Each NAN device 204 is configured to relay data for the NAN network so that the individual NAN devices 204 can collaborate in data distribution within the network. Therefore, a message can be sent from a source NAN device to a destination NAN device by propagating along a path that jumps from one NAN device to the next NAN device until it reaches the destination.

[0040] Each NAN device 204 is configured to send two types of beacons: NAN discovery beacons and NAN synchronization beacons. When the NAN device 204 is turned on, or otherwise when the NAN functionality is enabled, the NAN device periodically sends NAN discovery beacons (e.g., every 100 TUs, every 128 TUs, or another suitable period) and NAN synchronization beacons (e.g., every 512 TUs or another suitable period). Discovery beacons are management frames sent between discovery windows to facilitate the discovery of NAN clusters. A NAN cluster is a collection of NAN devices within a NAN network that are synchronized to the same clock and discovery window schedule using a time synchronization function (TSF). In order to join a NAN cluster, a NAN device 204 passively scans for discovery beacons from other NAN devices. When two NAN devices 204 enter each other's transmission range, they will discover each other based on such discovery beacons. The corresponding master preference value determines which NAN device in the NAN device 204 will become the master device. If no NAN cluster is discovered, the NAN device 204 may start a new NAN cluster. When the NAN device 204 starts a NAN cluster, it assumes the master role and broadcasts a discovery beacon. Additionally, a NAN device may choose to participate in more than one NAN cluster within a NAN network.

[0041] The links between NAN devices 204 in a NAN cluster are associated with a discovery window (the time and channel where NAN devices converge). At the beginning of each discovery window, one or more NAN devices 204 may send a NAN synchronization beacon, which is a management frame used to synchronize the timing of NAN devices within the NAN cluster to the timing of the master device. The NAN device 204 may then send a multicast or unicast NAN service discovery frame directly to other NAN devices within the service discovery threshold and in the same NAN cluster during the discovery window. The service discovery frame indicates the services supported by the corresponding NAN device 204.

[0042] In some examples, the NAN devices 204 may exchange service discovery frames to confirm whether both devices support ranging operations. The NAN devices 204 may perform such ranging operations ("ranging") during the discovery window. Ranging may involve exchanging fine timing measurement (FTM) frames (such as those defined in IEEE 802.11-REVmc). For example, the first NAN device 204 may send a unicast FTM request to multiple peer NAN devices 204. The peer NAN devices 204 may then send a response to the first NAN device 204. The first NAN device 204 may then exchange the number of FTM frames with each of the peer NAN devices 204. The first NAN device 204 may then determine the range between itself and each peer device 204 based on the FTM frames and send a range indication to each peer NAN device 204. For example, the range indication may include a distance value or an indication of whether the peer NAN device 204 is within a service discovery threshold (e.g., 3 meters (m)) of the first NAN device 204. NAN links between NAN devices within the same NAN cluster may survive over multiple discovery windows as long as the NAN devices remain within each other's service discovery thresholds and synchronized with the anchor master device of the NAN cluster.

[0043] Some NAN devices 204 may also be configured to communicate wirelessly with other networks, such as with a Wi-Fi WLAN or a wireless (e.g., cellular) wide area network (WWAN), which in turn may provide access to external networks, including the Internet. For example, the NAN device 204 may be configured to associate and communicate with an AP or base station 202 of a WLAN or WWAN network, respectively, via a Wi-Fi or cellular link 212. In such instances, the NAN device 204 may include SoftAP functionality, enabling a STA to operate as a Wi-Fi hotspot to provide access to external networks to other NAN devices 204 via an associated WLAN or WWAN backhaul. Such a NAN device 204, referred to as a NAN concurrent device, is capable of operating in a NAN network as well as another type of wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi BSS. In some such implementations, the NAN device 204 may advertise the ability to provide such AP services to other NAN devices 204 in a service discovery frame.

[0044] There are two general NAN service discovery messages: publish messages and subscribe messages. In general, publish is a mechanism for an application on a NAN device to make selected information about the capabilities and services of the NAN device available to other NAN devices, while subscription is a mechanism for an application on a NAN device to collect selected types of information about the capabilities and services of other NAN devices. A NAN device may generate and send a subscription message when requesting other NAN devices operating within the same NAN cluster to provide a specific service. For example, in active subscriber mode, a subscription function executed within a NAN device may send a NAN service discovery frame to actively seek the availability of a specific service. A publishing function executed within a publishing NAN device that is capable of providing the requested service may, for example, send a publish message in response to satisfying the criteria specified in the subscription message to reply to the subscribing NAN device. The publish message may include a range parameter indicating a service discovery threshold, which represents the maximum distance at which a subscribing NAN device can utilize the service of the publishing NAN device itself. NAN may also use publish messages in an unsolicited manner, for example, a publisher NAN device may generate and send a publish message to make its service discoverable by other NAN devices operating within the same NAN cluster. In passive subscriber mode, the subscribing function does not initiate the delivery of any subscription messages, instead, the subscribing function looks for matches in received publish messages to determine the availability of the desired service.

[0045] The discovery window is followed by a transmission opportunity period. The period includes multiple resource blocks. A NAN device link (NDL) refers to a resource block negotiated between NAN devices for NAN operation. NDL may include more than one "hop". The number of hops depends on the number of devices between the device providing the service and the device consuming or subscribing to the service. An example of a two-hop NDL includes three NAN devices: a provider, a subscriber, and an agent that relays information between the provider and the subscriber. In this configuration, the first hop refers to the communication of information between the provider and the agent, and the second hop refers to the communication of information between the agent and the subscriber. NDL may refer to a subset of NAN devices capable of one-hop service discovery, but NDL may also be capable of service discovery and subscription over multiple hops (multi-hop NDL).

[0046] There are two general types of NDL: paging NDL (P-NDL) and synchronization NDL (S-NDL). Each common resource block (CRB) of P-NDL includes a paging window (PW) followed by a transmit window (TxW). All NAN devices participating in P-NDL operate in a state of receiving frames during the paging window. Typically, participating NAN devices wake up during the paging window to listen to the paging channel to determine whether there is any traffic buffered for the corresponding device. For example, a NAN device with pending data for transmission to another NAN device may send a traffic announcement message to the other NAN device during the paging window to notify the other NAN device of the buffered data. If there is available data, the NAN device remains awake during the transmit window to exchange data. If there is no data to be transmitted, the NAN device may transition back to a sleep state during the transmit window to save power. If the NAN device has buffered data available to the peer, it sends a paging message to its NDL peer during the paging window. The paging message includes, for example, a MAC address or identifier of the destination device for which the data is available. A NAN device listed as a receiver in a received paging message sends a trigger frame to the sending device and remains awake during a subsequent sending window to receive data. The NDL sender device sends buffered data to the receiving device from which the NDL sender device received the trigger frame during the sending window. A NAN device that establishes S-NDL with a peer NAN device can send data frames to the peer starting from each S-NDL CRB without sending a paging message in advance.

[0047] Figure 3 An example of a WLAN 300 supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. According to some aspects, the WLAN 300 may be an example of a mesh network, an IoT network, or a sensor network. The WLAN 300 includes a plurality of wireless communication devices 314. The wireless communication device 314 may represent a variety of devices, such as a display device (e.g., a TV, a computer monitor, a navigation system, etc.), a music or other audio or stereo device, a remote control device ("remote control"), a printer, a kitchen or other household appliance, and the like.

[0048] In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 314 senses, measures, collects, or otherwise obtains and processes data, and then sends such raw or processed data to the intermediate device 312 for subsequent processing or distribution. Additionally or alternatively, the intermediate device 312 may send control information, digital content (e.g., audio or video data), configuration information, or other instructions to the wireless communication device 314. The intermediate device 312 and the wireless communication device 314 may communicate with each other via a wireless link 316. In some implementations, the wireless link 316 includes a Bluetooth link or other PAN or short-range communication link.

[0049] In some examples, the intermediate device 312 may also be configured to wirelessly communicate with other networks, such as with a Wi-Fi WLAN or a wireless (e.g., cellular) wide area network (WWAN), which in turn may provide access to external networks, including the Internet. For example, the intermediate device 312 may be configured to associate and communicate with an AP 302 of a WLAN network via a Wi-Fi link 318, which may also serve various STAs 304. In some implementations, the intermediate device 312 is an example of a network gateway (e.g., an IoT gateway). In this way, the intermediate device 312 may act as an edge bridge that provides Wi-Fi core backhaul for an IoT network including a wireless communication device 314. In some implementations, the intermediate device 312 may be configured to analyze, pre-process, and aggregate data received from a wireless communication device 314 locally at the edge before sending the data to other devices or external networks via a Wi-Fi link 318. The intermediate device 312 may also be configured to provide additional security for the IoT network and the data it transmits.

[0050] Figure 4 An example of a WLAN 400 that supports a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The WLAN 400 may implement or be implemented by one or more aspects of the WLAN 100, the WLAN 200, and the WLAN 300. For example, the WLAN 400 may include an AP 402 and one or more STAs 404 (e.g., STA 404-a and STA 404-b), which may be as described in reference to FIG. Figures 1 to 3 Examples of corresponding devices described. Figure 4 In the example of , STA 404-a and STA 404-b can each be an example of a wearable device (e.g., a pair of headphones 406 or smart glasses 408) or a mobile device (e.g., user equipment (UE) 407). Additionally or alternatively, in Figure 4In some examples, AP 402 may be an example of a soft AP (e.g., a UE operating in mobile hotspot mode) or an infrastructure AP. In some examples, communications between AP 402 and STA 404 may be an example of communications between peer communication devices communicating during a TWT session. In some examples, communications between AP 402 and STA 404 may be an example of communications between an infrastructure AP (e.g., AP 402, a device capable of forming a wireless local area network (WLAN), a router) and a client (e.g., STA 404, UE) that is associated with the infrastructure AP and configured to communicate during a TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, communications between AP 402 and STA 404 may be an example of communications between a soft AP (e.g., AP 402, a device capable of operating in mobile hotspot mode, UE) and a client (e.g., STA 404, a wearable device) that is associated with the soft AP and part of a negotiated TWT session.

[0051] In some examples, WLAN 400 may be an example of a self-managed network (e.g., an xPAN). In such an example, AP 402 may configure multiple STAs (e.g., STA 404-a and STA 404-b) using TWT sessions, where each of STA 404 may communicate with AP 402 (or with other STAs not shown). For example, AP 402 may configure STA 404-a and STA 404-b using TWT sessions, which may include multiple (e.g., non-overlapping) time intervals (e.g., TWT sessions) or frequencies (or both) at which STA 404-a and STA 404-b may send and receive communications. For example, each TWT session may have an associated service period in which STA 404-a or STA 404-b (or both) may be in an awake state. Thus, AP 402 may manage activity within WLAN 400 and reduce the likelihood of conflicts between devices operating within WLAN 400 (eg, between STA 404-a or STA 404-b and other STAs not shown).

[0052] In some examples, WLAN 400 may be an example of an xPAN or extended reality (XR) network, where devices operating within WLAN 400 (e.g., AP 402 and STA 404) may communicate via Wi-Fi. For example, in an xPAN, multiple devices (e.g., AP 402, STA 404, or other devices not shown) may act as sources of xPAN links that may be generated (e.g., generated, created) by devices (e.g., a single user, AP 402, STA 404-a, STA 404-b) operating within WLAN 400 (e.g., xPAN). In some examples, multiple devices (e.g., collocated devices) operating with an xPAN may cause increased interference (e.g., conflicts). Additionally or alternatively, multiple devices (e.g., AP 402 and STA 404) operating within WLAN 400 may have strict latency constraints (e.g., key performance indicator (KPI) latency constraints), performance constraints, and power constraints in a private area network. Thus, multiple devices may not be able to adapt to collocated networks (e.g., collocated xPAN networks) where Wi-Fi (e.g., one or more Wi-Fi communication links) may be congested. That is, devices with strict latency constraints may not be able to adapt to congested Wi-Fi environments, such as airports, student lounges, arcades, and stadiums, etc.

[0053] For example, in a WLAN 400 (e.g., an xPAN or an XR network), a mobile device (e.g., a phone, an AP 402) can configure a wearable device (e.g., one or both of the STAs 404, a pair of headphones 406, a pair of smart glasses 408) using an individual TWT (iTWT) session. In such an example, the iTWT session can be used for communication between the AP 402 and one or both of the STAs 404. That is, the iTWT session can be used for transmissions between the phone and the wearable device in the xPAN (or the phone and the wearable device in the XR network). In some examples, the iTWT session can help reduce (e.g., to a minimum or other suitable value) Wi-Fi conflicts within a basic service set (BSS), such as a single xPAN that includes a phone (e.g., AP 402) and associated wearable devices (e.g., STA 404), while providing flexible service period or interval configurations (e.g., to balance transmission power and latency). In some examples, the iTWT session can reduce conflicts (e.g., Wi-Fi conflicts) by regulating conflicts from devices operating within the BSS. However, in some examples, channel congestion from overlapping BSSs and non-Wi-Fi transmissions in the same frequency band (e.g., the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band) may affect link quality. For example, an increased number of devices (e.g., STA 404, AP 402, or both) may operate within WLAN 400, such that channel congestion may be relatively high and the quality of communication between AP 402 and STA 404 (or between STA 404) may be reduced. In such examples, congestion avoidance techniques or detection and recovery techniques may be desirable.

[0054] In some examples, to reduce the likelihood of a conflict within the WLAN 400, the AP 402 may send an indication to the STA 404-a or STA 404-b (or both) to switch operating frequencies (e.g., switch to a different channel associated with a different operating frequency). For example, a static frequency configuration of a network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network in which the AP 402 and the STA 404 may operate) may cause the network to become more sensitive to (e.g., susceptible to) interference (e.g., conflict). Therefore, some devices operating with the network (such as the AP 402) may detect (e.g., determine) a frequency (e.g., a hotspot) with increased congestion and instruct other devices (e.g., the STA 404) to switch frequencies so that the network can recover and network operation (e.g., communication quality within the network) can be maintained. In some examples, the AP 402 may instruct the STA 404 to switch frequencies via a CSA. For example, the AP 402 may send a CSA that may instruct one or both of the STAs 404 to change the frequency or bandwidth used for communication within the WLAN 400. However, in some cases, CSA may cause AP 402 to re-initiate a TWT session (e.g., iTWT session) to STA 404, which may result in increased latency. Techniques that rely on CSA to change operating frequency may be rigid and unsuitable for STA 404 with strict latency constraints.

[0055] In some examples, techniques for managing TWT sessions may provide one or more enhancements to xPANs and XR networks. For example, some techniques for managing TWT sessions may provide frequency hopping of one or both of the STAs 404 across different channels based on channel congestion, thereby enabling the network to recover (e.g., self-heal) and adapt to congestion (e.g., without relatively high control overhead). Some techniques for managing TWT sessions for wireless networks may be used with Wi-Fi, for example to help congested xPANs (e.g., one or more self-organizing, self-managing networks without a centralized entity), such as in airports, auditoriums, stadiums, student lounges, or game halls, etc. For example, such techniques may employ frequency hopping (e.g., in Wi-Fi), thereby providing one or more enhancements to congested or collocated networks. Additionally or alternatively, techniques for managing TWT sessions for wireless networks may include flexible scheduling of TWT sessions, increased bandwidth of Wi-Fi (e.g., about 20 MHz, about 10 MHz, or about 5 MHz). Such techniques may provide management (e.g., handling) of congestion in collocated networks.

[0056] In some examples of techniques for managing TWT sessions for a wireless network, the AP 402 may associate channel (or frequency and bandwidth) tuples for one or more negotiated TWT sessions. Additionally or alternatively, some techniques for managing TWT sessions for a wireless network may provide a mechanism for the STA 404 or the AP 402 (or both) to derive hopping patterns with reduced overhead (e.g., due to reduced message exchanges). For example, techniques for managing TWT sessions may provide a framework for identifying channels, bandwidths, and hopping patterns based on congestion metrics, thereby improving communications within the WLAN 400. In some examples, such techniques for managing TWT sessions may provide one or more enhancements to low-latency gaming and high-resolution lossless audio in an xPAN.

[0057] like Figure 4 As illustrated in the example of , AP 402 may configure one or both of STA 404 to switch between frequency channels according to a frequency hopping pattern. In some examples, STA 404-a and STA 404-b may each receive a first signal (e.g., a beacon) that includes an indication of a frequency channel set for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval. For example, STA 404-a may receive frequency channel indication 410-a, and STA 404-b may receive frequency channel indication 410-b. In some examples, frequency channel indication 410-a and frequency channel indication 410-b may indicate a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set. Additionally or alternatively, each TWT session in the TWT session set may be associated with a service period during which STA 404 may be in an awake state.

[0058] In some examples, STA 404-a and STA 404-b may each receive a first signal on a first frequency channel. For example, STA 404-a may receive a first signal (e.g., including frequency channel indication 410-a) on a first frequency channel 420-a, and STA 404-b may receive a first signal (e.g., including frequency channel indication 410-b) on a first frequency channel 420-b. In some examples, for a first TWT session and according to a hopping pattern, STA 404-a may switch from a first frequency channel 420-a to a second frequency channel 421-a, and STA 404-b may switch from a first frequency channel 420-b to a second frequency channel 421-b. In some examples, STA 404 may each communicate a signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session. For example, STA 404-a may communicate signal 415-a with (e.g., send or receive a signal to) AP 402 on a second frequency channel 421-a, and STA 404-b may communicate signal 415-b with (e.g., send or receive a signal to) AP 402 on a second frequency channel 421-b. Additionally or alternatively, STA 404-a and STA 404-b may communicate signal 415-c between each other on a second frequency channel 421-c. In some examples, by switching frequency channels, STA 404 may reduce the likelihood of latency and collisions (e.g., and glitches in audio) occurring for multiple (e.g., different) congestion levels within WLAN 400 (e.g., a Wi-Fi system).

[0059] Figure 5 An example of a frequency channel hopping scheme 500 for supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The frequency channel hopping scheme 500 may implement or be implemented by one or more aspects of WLAN 100, WLAN 200, WLAN 300, and WLAN 400. For example, the frequency channel hopping scheme 500 may be implemented by an AP and one or more STAs, which may be as described in reference to FIG. Figures 1 to 4Examples of the corresponding devices described. One or more STAs may each be an example of a wearable device (e.g., a pair of headphones or smart glasses) or a mobile device (e.g., a UE). Additionally or alternatively, the AP may be an example of a soft AP (e.g., a UE operating in mobile hotspot mode) or an infrastructure AP. Communication between the AP and one or more STAs may be an example of communication between peer communication devices communicating during a TWT session. In some examples, communication between the AP and one or more STAs may be an example of communication between an infrastructure AP (e.g., an AP, a device capable of forming a WLAN, a router) and a client (e.g., a STA, a UE) that is associated with the infrastructure AP and is configured to communicate during a TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, communication between the AP and one or more STAs may be an example of communication between a soft AP (e.g., an AP, a device capable of operating in mobile hotspot mode, a UE) and a client (e.g., a STA, a wearable device) that is associated with a soft AP and a portion of a negotiated TWT session.

[0060] In some examples, an AP may manage communications within a wireless network (e.g., an xPAN or XR network) via a TWT session. For example, an AP may configure a STA (or multiple STAs) served by the AP using multiple TWT sessions (e.g., indexed from 1 to 4) that recur according to a service interval 520. Each TWT session may have an associated (e.g., non-overlapping) time interval (e.g., a service period 525) during which the STA can communicate with the AP (e.g., during which the STA can be in an awake state). In some examples, an offset 530 may occur between the service periods 525. Some TWT sessions may be negotiated between the AP and the STA, for example, to provide service periods for uplink and downlink communications with expected traffic. That is, the AP and the STA may negotiate multiple TWT sessions so that the AP can communicate with the STA (or other communication device) at multiple (e.g., different) time intervals and under multiple (e.g., different) traffic conditions. In some examples, the STA (e.g., TWT request and response STA) may operate on the same (e.g., static) frequency channel and bandwidth for all negotiated sessions. In such examples, the STA may have an increased likelihood of experiencing (eg, may be susceptible to) channel interference.

[0061] In some examples, in order to reduce the possibility of a STA experiencing channel interference (e.g., to reduce the possibility of a conflict), the AP may configure the STA to switch operating frequencies (e.g., switch channels associated with different operating frequencies). For example, the AP may instruct the STA to switch frequencies via the CSA. That is, the CSA may be used (e.g., by the AP) to change the operating frequency or bandwidth. However, in some examples, the CSA may cause one or more TWT sessions to be re-initiated, and thus provide a coarse level of recovery for the network. For example, the transmission of the CSA may cause the interruption (e.g., termination) of a TWT session (e.g., negotiated between the AP and the STA), and other (e.g., subsequent) TWT sessions may be re-initiated on other (e.g., different) frequency channels. Additionally or alternatively, in order to reduce the possibility of a STA experiencing channel interference (e.g., to reduce the possibility of a conflict within the network), the AP may adopt one or more congestion prevention schemes, such as overlapping BSS (OBSS) coloring, spatial reuse protocols, energy (or packet) detection thresholds, or relatively aggressive backoff parameters (e.g., for each packet). However, in some examples, the impact of such techniques on the network may be unclear (e.g., unknown).

[0062] In other examples, the AP may employ one or more techniques for managing TWT sessions. For example, the AP may associate a frequency (e.g., a frequency and bandwidth tuple) for each TWT session negotiated with the STA (e.g., for each TWT session indexed from 1 to 4). In some examples, the AP may define a frequency hopping pattern (e.g., at a time instance synchronized with a TWT session boundary). The AP may determine to apply a frequency hopping pattern based on a congestion metric. For example, if a congestion condition is met, the AP may determine the STA's hopping using a hopping algorithm based on a congestion metric (e.g., for the STA to indicate a change in frequency according to a frequency hopping pattern (e.g., changing a channel associated with a different frequency, changing a frequency channel)). For example, the AP may determine a frequency hopping pattern based on monitoring channel congestion over a duration of a frequency channel set, which may range from relatively low congestion (e.g., corresponding to color 515-b of the channel condition trend 510) to relatively high congestion (e.g., corresponding to color 515-a of the channel condition trend 510). In some examples, such as in addition to frequency channels included in the frequency hopping pattern, the AP may maintain frequency channels used to send beacons and for other network operations, and the like.

[0063] like Figure 5As illustrated in the example of , the STA may support frequency hopping, wherein the STA may switch (e.g., hop, transition) between multiple frequency channels (e.g., multiple channels that may each be associated with a corresponding frequency) according to a frequency hopping pattern (e.g., determined by the AP). For example, during a second session (e.g., corresponding to index 2) of the service interval 520, the STA may be configured to operate on the second frequency channel 506. For the second session, the AP may determine (e.g., based on the frequency hopping pattern) to send an indication for the STA to switch from the second frequency channel 506 to the first frequency channel 505. In response to the indication, the STA may switch from the second frequency channel 506 to the first frequency channel 505 during a subsequent (e.g., next) service interval for the second session. In some examples, for the second session of the subsequent (e.g., next) service interval, the channel congestion associated with the first frequency channel 505 may be reduced compared to the channel congestion associated with the second frequency channel 506. Therefore, by switching to the first frequency channel 505 for the second session of the subsequent service interval, the STA may reduce the possibility of a conflict within the WLAN.

[0064] Figure 6 An example of a frequency channel hopping scheme 600 for supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The frequency channel hopping scheme 600 may implement or be implemented by one or more aspects of WLAN 100, WLAN 200, WLAN 300, and WLAN 400. For example, the frequency channel hopping scheme 600 may be implemented by an AP and one or more STAs, which may be as described in reference to FIG. Figures 1 to 4 Examples of the corresponding devices described. Figure 6 In the example of , one or more STAs may each be an example of a wearable device (e.g., a pair of headphones or smart glasses) or a mobile device (e.g., a UE). Additionally or alternatively, in Figure 6 In the examples, the AP may be an example of a soft AP (e.g., a UE operating in mobile hotspot mode) or an infrastructure AP. For example, communication between an AP and one or more STAs may be an example of communication between peer communication devices communicating during a TWT session. In some examples, communication between an AP and a STA may be an example of communication between an infrastructure AP (e.g., an AP, a device capable of forming a WLAN, a router) and a client (e.g., a STA, a UE) that is associated with the infrastructure AP and configured to communicate during a TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, communication between an AP and a STA may be an example of communication between a soft AP (e.g., an AP, a device capable of operating in mobile hotspot mode, a UE) and a client (e.g., a STA, a wearable device) that is associated with a soft AP and part of a negotiated TWT session.

[0065] In some examples, techniques for managing TWT sessions for wireless networks may provide for STAs to hop (e.g., switch, transition) across different frequency channels for a TWT session negotiated with an AP. For example, such techniques may enable STAs to avoid congestion and converge (e.g., operate) on frequency channels with relatively low congestion, thereby reducing the likelihood that STAs may unnecessarily incur hopping overhead. For example, the frequency hopping behavior of a STA may be based on channel congestion and aligned with a service period 625 of a TWT session. Figure 6 As illustrated in the example of , the AP may determine a hopping pattern 645 based on channel congestion (e.g., channel congestion conditions) of multiple TWT sessions (e.g., a first session (S1) and a second session (S2)) negotiated with the STA. In some examples, each TWT session may recur according to a service interval 620 (e.g., service interval 620-a, service interval 620-b, service interval 620-c, service interval 620-d, service interval 620-e, service interval 620-f) and may be associated with a corresponding service period 625 (e.g., occur within a corresponding service period).

[0066] In some examples, the AP may monitor one or more channel congestion metrics (e.g., latency metrics, throughput metrics) of one or more frequency channels used to communicate with the STA. Additionally or alternatively, the STA may monitor one or more channel congestion metrics (e.g., of one or more frequency channels) and report one or more channel metrics or information associated with one or more channel metrics to the AP (e.g., send an indication thereof). That is, the STA may monitor one or more congestion metrics (e.g., and determine its local view) to help the AP determine the frequency channel congestion (e.g., a global view of the frequency channel congestion) and thus determine a suitable frequency hopping pattern. In some examples, after determining the degradation of the frequency channel (e.g., after determining that the channel congestion condition is satisfied for the frequency channel, after receiving an indication from the SA that the channel condition is satisfied), a hopping sequence for the STA may be initiated (e.g., based on the determined hopping pattern). That is, after determining that the channel congestion condition associated with the frequency channel of the TWT session is satisfied, the AP may instruct the STA to switch (e.g., hop, transition) from the frequency channel to another (e.g., different) frequency channel. In some examples, candidate frequency channels for hopping (e.g., included in a hopping sequence, included in a frequency hopping pattern) may be determined by the AP based on past results (e.g., past measurement results, past results of a hopping algorithm at the AP), a scan (e.g., a frequency scan), spectrum data, or any combination thereof. For example, the hopping pattern 645 may be based on a channel congestion map 640, where the hopping pattern may avoid (e.g., suppress inclusion of) frequency channels with relatively high congestion (e.g., corresponding to color 615-f), and may include frequency channels with relatively low congestion (e.g., corresponding to color 615-e). In some examples, frequency hopping (e.g., the next frequency channel) may be random (e.g., based on a pseudo-random seed) and triggered based on channel congestion conditions. That is, frequency hopping (e.g., of a frequency hopping sequence) may be opportunistic and conditional on channel congestion.

[0067] In some examples, frequency hopping can be initiated for a STA via a beacon (e.g., can be aligned with a beacon interval). For example, the AP can send an indication (e.g., an out-of-band trigger) to the STA via a beacon 635 (e.g., beacon 635-a, beacon 635-b, beacon 635-c, beacon 635-d, beacon 635-e, beacon 635-f, beacon 635-g) to switch from a frequency channel (e.g., one of the first frequency channel 605, the second frequency channel 606, or the third frequency channel 607) to another frequency channel (e.g., another of the first frequency channel 605, the second frequency channel 606, or the third frequency channel 607). In some examples, a beacon may be sent at a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) (such as TBTT 630-a, TBTT 630-b, TBTT 630-c, TBTT 630-d, TBTT 630-e, TBTT 630-f, or TBTT 630-g) during a corresponding service interval 620. As an illustrative example, the AP may send a beacon 635-b at TBTT 630-b. The beacon 635-b may indicate to the STA that a CSA (not shown) for a second session (S2) and a service interval 620-b (e.g., a subsequent service interval, a next service interval) is switched (e.g., hopped) from the first frequency channel 605 to the second frequency channel 606. That is, the second frequency channel 606 may be selected for both the CSA (e.g., included in the beacon 635-c sent at TBTT 630-c) and the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-b.

[0068] In some examples, a second frequency channel 606 may be selected for a second session (S2) of a service interval 620-b based on a channel congestion condition. For example, as illustrated according to the channel condition trend 610, during the service interval 620-a, the channel congestion associated with the first frequency channel 605 of the second session (S2) (e.g., illustrated by color 615-a) may be relatively low. However, the AP may determine (e.g., based on monitoring the channel congestion over a duration) that the channel congestion associated with the first frequency channel 605 of the second session (S2) during the service interval 620-b may be relatively high (or increased compared to the first frequency channel 605 of the second session (S2) during the service interval 620-a). Therefore, the AP may instruct the STA to switch from the first frequency channel 605 to the second frequency channel 606 for the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-b.

[0069] Additionally or alternatively, the AP may send a beacon 635-c on the TBTT 630-c. The beacon 635-c may indicate to the STA that the CSA for the second session (S2) and the service interval 620-c (e.g., a subsequent service interval, a next service interval) switches (e.g., jumps) from the second frequency channel 606 to the third frequency channel 607. That is, the third frequency channel 607 may be selected for both the CSA (e.g., included in the beacon 635-d sent on the TBTT 630-d) and the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-c. The third frequency channel 607 may be selected for the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-c based on the channel congestion condition. For example, during service interval 620-b, channel congestion associated with the second frequency channel 606 of the second session (S2) (e.g., illustrated by color 615-b) may be relatively low, however, the AP may determine (e.g., based on monitoring channel congestion over a certain duration) that during service interval 620-c, channel congestion associated with the second frequency channel 606 of the second session (S2) may be relatively high (or increased compared to the second frequency channel 606 of the second session (S2) during service interval 620-b). Therefore, the AP may instruct the STA to switch from the second frequency channel 606 to the third frequency channel 607 for the second session (S2) of service interval 620-c.

[0070] In some examples, the AP may indicate to the STA to refrain from switching (e.g., hopping) based on the channel congestion condition. For example, the AP may send a beacon 635-d on the TBTT 630-d, which may indicate to the STA to refrain from switching (e.g., hopping). That is, the third frequency channel 607 may be selected for both the CSA (e.g., included in the beacon 635-e sent on the TBTT 630-e) and the first session (S1) and the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-d. The third frequency channel 607 may be selected for the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-d (e.g., as well as the CSA and the first session (S1)) based on the channel congestion condition. For example, during the service interval 620-c and the service interval 620-d, the channel congestion associated with the third frequency channel 607 of the second session (S2) (e.g., illustrated by the color 615-c and the color 615-d, respectively) may be relatively low, and therefore, the AP may indicate to the STA to refrain from switching (e.g., hopping, transitioning) between frequency channels.

[0071] In some other examples, the AP may instruct the STA to switch (e.g., hop, transition) between frequency channels via a data signal (such as a quality of service data signal). For example, the AP may send a data signal during a session (e.g., a first session (S1) or a second session (S2)), which may instruct the STA to switch (or suppress switching) between frequency channels for another service interval (e.g., for the next TWT session period, a subsequent TWT session period). For example, the AP may send an indication (e.g., an in-band trigger) on the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-a for the STA to switch from the first frequency channel 605 to the second frequency channel 606 for the second session (S2) of the service interval 620-b. In such an example, the AP can avoid unnecessarily increasing the overhead associated with channel hopping.

[0072] Figure 7 An example of a process flow 700 for supporting management of a hopping TWT for a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. For example, the process flow 700 may include operations associated with an AP 702 and one or more STAs 704 (e.g., STA 704-a and STA 704-b), which may be as described in reference to Figures 1 to 6 Examples of corresponding devices described. Figure 7 In the example of , one or more STAs 704 may each be an example of a wearable device (e.g., a pair of headphones or smart glasses) or a mobile device (e.g., a UE). Additionally or alternatively, in Figure 7 In the example of , AP 702 can be an example of a soft AP (e.g., a UE operating in mobile hotspot mode) or an infrastructure AP. For example, communication between AP 702 and STA 704 can be an example of communication between peer communication devices communicating during a TWT session.

[0073] In some examples, the communication between AP 702 and STA 704 can be an example of communication between an infrastructure AP (e.g., AP 702, a device capable of forming a WLAN, a router) and a client (e.g., STA 704, a UE) that is associated with the infrastructure AP and configured to communicate during a TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, the communication between AP 702 and STA 704 can be an example of communication between a soft AP (e.g., AP 702, a device capable of operating in a mobile hotspot mode, a UE) and a client (e.g., STA 704, a wearable device) that is associated with the soft AP and a portion of a negotiated TWT session. The operations performed by AP 702 and STA 704 may support improvements to the communication between one or both of STA 704 and AP 702. In the following description of process flow 700, the operations between STA 704 and AP 702 may occur in a different order or at a different time than shown. Some operations may also be omitted from process flow 700 , and other operations may be added to process flow 700 .

[0074] In some examples, an AP can serve multiple STAs (e.g., multiple clients) over multiple sessions and multiple channels (e.g., frequency channels). For example, AP 702 can serve STA 704-a and STA 704-b (e.g., dual clients). In some examples, STA 704 (e.g., dual clients) can each be an example of a wearable device. For example, STA 704 can be an example of a pair of headphones (e.g., STA 704-a can be an example of a pair of headphones to be worn in the left ear of a user, and STA 704-b can be an example of a pair of headphones to be worn in the right ear of a user). In some examples, AP 702 can configure STA 704-a and STA 704-b using one or more TWT sessions for communicating with AP 702 (or other APs, or other STAs). Figure 7As illustrated in the example of , at 710, AP 702 may send beacons to STA 704-a and STA 704-b. In some examples, the beacon may include a list of channels to be used by STA 704, for example, during a TWT session negotiated with AP 702. That is, AP 702 may announce the TWT channel list via one or more beacons. Additionally or alternatively, the TWT channel list may be negotiated between AP 702 and STA 704, for example, on one or more frames for establishing a TWT session with STA 704 (e.g., on a session setup frame). For example, one or more packets of information elements (IEs) exchanged (e.g., over the air (OTA)) between AP 702 and STA 704 on a frame for establishing a TWT session (e.g., through a handshake for a TWT session) may include information associated with the TW channel list. That is, the OTA frame exchange sequence between AP 702 and one or both of STAs 704 may include information about the TWT channel list, as well as other information associated with the negotiated TWT session.

[0075] In some examples, in response to receiving the beacon sent at 710, STA 704 may establish (e.g., set up, negotiate) a corresponding TWT session with AP 702. In some examples, as part of negotiating a TWT session with AP 702, STA 704 (e.g., a dual client, a headset to be worn in the left ear and a headset to be worn in the right ear) may be aligned at a session boundary. That is, AP 702 may align a TWT session configured for STA 704-a with a corresponding TWT session configured for STA 704-b. In some examples, AP 702 may align TWT sessions for STA 704 by applying the same service period offset, the same service period duration, or the same service interval, or any combination thereof. Thus, AP 702 may achieve synchronization between STA 704-a and STA 704-b. In some examples, STA 704 and AP 702 may negotiate a default channel for communication on each of these sessions. For example, at 715, the AP 702 and the STA 704 may determine a default channel for the first session (S1) (e.g., a channel indicated via index 4). At 720, the AP 702 and the STA 704 may determine a default channel for the second session (S2) (e.g., a channel indicated via index 2). In some examples, the default channel may be included in a TWT channel list (e.g., indicated to the STA 704 via a beacon sent at 710). That is, each channel in the TWT channel list may be associated with an index that may be used by the AP 702 (or the STA 704, or both) to identify (or indicate) the channel for communication.

[0076] At 725, AP 702 may send a second beacon (e.g., another beacon) to STA 704 (e.g., on TBTT) within a service interval that may include the first session (S1) and the second session (S2). In some examples, the beacon may include a TWT channel list (e.g., the same or different list as may be included in the beacon sent at 710). In some examples, AP 702 may instruct STA 704 to switch from a default channel (e.g., the frequency of the default channel) of the corresponding session to another channel (e.g., another frequency) (or suppress switching) via the beacon sent at 725. In other examples, AP 702 may instruct STA 704 to switch from a default channel (e.g., the frequency of the default channel) associated with the first session (S1) of the corresponding session (e.g., the frequency of the default channel) (or suppress switching) via a data signal sent to STA 704 during the corresponding session. For example, at 730, AP 702 may send a data signal, such as a QoS data signal, to STA 704 on the first session (S1). The QoS may be sent on a default frequency associated with the first session (S1) (e.g., a channel corresponding to index 4). In some examples, the QoS data signal may indicate to the STA 704 to switch from the default channel to another channel (e.g., a channel index corresponding to index 3). For example, the QoS data signal may include an indication of a next (e.g., subsequent) channel to be used by the STA 704 for a subsequent (e.g., next) occurrence (e.g., within a subsequent service interval) of the first session (S1).

[0077] Additionally or alternatively, at 735, the AP 702 may send another data signal, such as another QoS data signal, to the STA 704 on the second session (S2). The QoS may be sent on a default frequency associated with the second session (S2) (e.g., a channel corresponding to index 2). In some examples, the QoS data signal may indicate to the STA 704 to switch from the default channel associated with the second session (S2) to another channel (e.g., a channel index corresponding to index 1) (or inhibit switching). For example, the QoS data signal may include an indication of a next (e.g., subsequent) channel to be used by the STA 704 for a subsequent (e.g., next) occurrence (e.g., within a subsequent service interval) of the first session (S1). In some examples, the next channel (e.g., next channel index, next channel indicator) may be indicated via one or more bits (e.g., unused bits, invalid frames) in the QoS data signal (e.g., QoS data control signal). The QoS data signal may be an example of a downlink QoS data signal (e.g., including audio data) or a QoS invalid signal (e.g., for early termination of a session period). In such an example, AP 702 may send the next channel indication via the QoS data signal without incurring additional overhead.

[0078] The AP 702 may determine the frequency hopping that triggers the STA 704 (e.g., the corresponding session) based on the congestion conditions of the corresponding channels (e.g., the default channels) of the first session (S1) and the second session (S2). In some examples, such as for a relatively clean environment (e.g., for an environment with a relatively low, no, or otherwise suitable amount of congestion), the AP 702 may determine the next channel via a random seed (e.g., via a pseudo-random seed). In other examples, such as for a relatively congested environment (e.g., for an environment with a relatively high or otherwise suitable amount of congestion), the AP 702 may determine the next channel based on the channel congestion associated with each channel for a certain duration (e.g., based on a channel congestion counter, a pseudo-random seed, or both). For example, the AP 702 may determine the candidate channel for hopping based on data previously collected for the channel. In some examples, the AP 702 may determine the next channel based on a hopping pattern, which may be determined by the AP 702 (or the STA 704, or both) based on one or more channel congestion metrics of monitoring the channel for a certain duration. In some examples, AP 702 may send an indication of a hopping pattern (eg, frequency hopping pattern, dynamic channel list) to STA 704 (eg, via a second beacon sent at 725) to indicate the next channel.

[0079] In some examples, in response to receiving the QoS data signal at 730 and 735, STA 704 may change (e.g., switch, hop) channels (e.g., frequency channels) for subsequent occurrences of the first session (S1) and the second session (S2), such as during subsequent service intervals. In some examples, by indicating to STA 704 to switch (e.g., hop) channels, the signal strength (e.g., signal strength measurement) of the signal received by STA 704 may change (e.g., vary) across the channels that STA 704 may be switching (e.g., hopping) (e.g., across the frequency range associated with the channels).

[0080] At 740, the AP 702 may send a third beacon (e.g., another beacon) to the STA 704 (e.g., on the TBTT) within another (e.g., subsequent) service interval that may include the first session (S1) and the second session (S2). The third beacon may include a TWT channel list (e.g., a dynamic channel list, a frequency hopping pattern), which may be the same channel list or a different channel list as included in the second beacon sent at 725. In some examples, the AP 702 may instruct the STA 704 to switch from the second channel (e.g., the frequency of the second channel) of the corresponding session to another channel (e.g., another frequency channel) (or suppress switching) via the third beacon sent at 740. In other examples, the AP 702 may instruct the STA 704 to switch from the second channel (e.g., the frequency of the second channel) to another channel (e.g., another frequency channel) via the QoS data signal sent to the STA 704 during the corresponding session. For example, at 745, the AP 702 may send a QoS data signal to the STA 704 on the first session (S1). The QoS data signal may be sent on a second channel (S1) associated with the first session (e.g., a channel corresponding to index 3). In some examples, the QoS data signal may indicate to the STA 704 to refrain from switching from the second channel to another channel. For example, the QoS data signal may include an indication of channel index zero (e.g., the AP 702 may set a field of an IE for indicating a next channel to zero) so that the STA 704 may determine to refrain from switching between channels for subsequent occurrences of the first session (S1).

[0081] Additionally or alternatively, at 750, the AP 702 may send another QoS data signal to the STA 704 on the second session (S2). The QoS data signal may be sent on a second frequency (S2) associated with the second session (e.g., a channel corresponding to index 1). In some examples, the QoS data signal may indicate to the STA 704 to refrain from switching from a second channel associated with the second session (S2) to another channel. For example, the QoS data signal may include an indication of channel index zero (e.g., the AP 702 may set a field for indicating a next channel to zero) so that the STA 704 may determine to refrain from switching between channels for a subsequent occurrence of the second session (S2).

[0082] In some examples, the AP 702 can provide one or more enhancements to packet exchange over a TWT service period (e.g., session) between a STA 704 (e.g., a pair of headphones or smart glasses) and an AP 702 (e.g., a UE) in xPAN and XR networks by enabling the STA 704 to switch between channels (e.g., hopping frequencies). That is, techniques for managing TWT sessions can provide one or more enhancements for a point-to-point xPAN or XR network topology (e.g., including a handset inventory holding unit, a handset hardware platform).

[0083] Figure 8 An example of a process flow 800 for supporting management of a hopping TWT for a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the process flow 800 may include exemplary operations associated with an AP 802 and a STA 804, which may be as described in reference to Figures 1 to 7 Examples of the corresponding devices described. Figure 8 In the example of , STA 804 can be an example of a wearable device (e.g., an earphone or a pair of earphones or smart glasses) or a mobile device (e.g., a UE). Additionally or alternatively, in Figure 8 In the example of, AP 802 can be an example of a soft AP (e.g., a UE operating in mobile hotspot mode) or an infrastructure AP. For example, communication between AP 802 and STA 804 can be an example of communication between peer communication devices communicating during a TWT session.

[0084] In some examples, the communication between AP 802 and STA 804 can be an example of communication between an infrastructure AP (e.g., AP 802, a device capable of forming a WLAN, a router) and a client (e.g., STA 804, a UE) that is associated with the infrastructure AP and configured to communicate during a TWT session. Additionally or alternatively, the communication between AP 802 and STA 804 can be an example of communication between a soft AP (e.g., AP 802, a device capable of operating in mobile hotspot mode, a UE) and a client (e.g., STA 804, a wearable device) that is associated with the soft AP and a portion of a negotiated TWT session. The operations performed by AP 802 and STA 804 may support improvements to the communication between one or both of STA 804 and AP 802. In the following description of process flow 800, the operations between STA 804 and AP 802 may occur in a different order or at a different time than shown. Some operations may also be omitted from process flow 800 , and other operations may be added to process flow 800 .

[0085] In some examples, the AP 802 may configure the STA 804 to switch between frequency channels according to a frequency hopping pattern. For example, at 810, the STA 804 may receive a first signal (e.g., a beacon signal) that includes an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval. In some examples, the first signal (e.g., received by the STA 804 at 810) may indicate a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions. In some examples, each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions may be associated with a service period during which the STA 804 may be in (e.g., may be expected to be in) an awake state.

[0086] At 815, STA 804 may switch from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel for a first TWT session in the TWT session set according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. At 820, STA 804 may communicate a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching (e.g., at 815). For example, STA 804 may receive a second signal from AP 802 on a second frequency channel. Additionally or alternatively, STA 804 may send the second signal to another STA (not shown). In some examples, by switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel, AP 802 may provide one or more enhancements to xPANs or XR networks.

[0087] Fig. 9An example of a wireless communication device 900 supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 900 may be a wireless communication device for a STA (such as the one described above). Figure 1 In some implementations, the wireless communication device 900 may be an example of a device in an AP (such as one of the STAs 104 described above). Figure 1 The wireless communication device 900 is capable of sending and receiving wireless communications, for example, in the form of wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device can be configured to send and receive packets in the form of physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDUs) and medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) that comply with IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standards (such as those defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or its amendments, including but not limited to 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be).

[0088] The wireless communication device 900 may be or may include a chip, system on chip (SoC), chipset, package, or device including one or more modems 902 (e.g., Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 compatible) modems). In some implementations, one or more modems 902 (collectively referred to as “modems 902”) additionally include a WWAN modem (e.g., a 3GPP 4G LTE or 5G compatible modem). In some implementations, the wireless communication device 900 also includes one or more processors, processing blocks, or processing elements 904 (collectively referred to as “processors 904”) coupled to the modem 902. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 900 additionally includes one or more radios 906 (collectively referred to as “radios 906”) coupled to the modem 902. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 900 also includes one or more memory blocks or elements 908 (collectively referred to as “memory 908”) coupled to the processor 904 or the modem 902.

[0089] The modem 902 may include an intelligent hardware block or device, such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like. The modem 902 is generally configured to implement the PHY layer, and in some specific implementations, also implements a portion of the MAC layer (e.g., a hardware portion of the MAC layer). For example, the modem 902 is configured to modulate packets and output the modulated packets to the radio component 904 for transmission over the wireless medium. Similarly, the modem 902 is configured to obtain modulated packets received by the radio component 904 and demodulate the packets to provide demodulated packets. In addition to the modulator and demodulator, the modem 902 may also include digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry, automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry, a decoder, a decoder, a multiplexer, and a demultiplexer. For example, when in a transmit mode, data obtained from the processor 906 may be provided to an encoder, which encodes the data to provide decoded bits. Subsequently, the decoded bits may be mapped to a number (N SS ) spatial streams for spatial multiplexing or several (N STS The decoded bits in each stream may then be mapped to points in a modulation constellation (using the selected MCS) to provide modulated symbols. The modulated symbols in the corresponding spatial stream or space-time stream may be multiplexed, transformed via an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) block, and then provided to a DSP circuit (e.g., for Tx windowing and filtering). The digital signal may then be provided to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The resulting analog signal may then be provided to a frequency upconverter and ultimately to the radio component 904. In a specific implementation involving beamforming, the modulated symbols in the corresponding spatial streams are pre-decoded via a steering matrix before being provided to the IFFT block.

[0090] When in receive mode, the DSP circuit is configured to acquire a signal including modulated symbols received from the radio component 904, for example, by detecting the presence of the signal and estimating initial timing and frequency offset. The DSP circuit is further configured to digitally condition the signal, for example, using channel (narrowband) filtering and analog impairment conditioning (such as correcting I / Q imbalance) and by applying digital gain to ultimately obtain a narrowband signal. The output of the DSP circuit can then be fed to an AGC, which is configured to use information extracted from the digital signal (for example, in one or more received training fields) to determine an appropriate gain. The output of the DSP circuit is also coupled to a demultiplexer, which demultiplexes the modulated symbols when multiple spatial streams or space-time streams are received. The demultiplexed symbols can be provided to a demodulator, which is configured to extract the symbols from the signal and, for example, calculate a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) for each bit position of each subcarrier in each spatial stream. The demodulator is coupled to a decoder, which can be configured to process the LLRs to provide decoded bits. The decoded bits may then be descrambled and provided to the MAC layer (processor 906) for processing, evaluation, or interpretation.

[0091] The radio component 904 typically includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter (or "transmitter chain") and at least one RF receiver (or "receiver chain"), which can be combined into one or more transceivers. For example, each of the RF transmitter and receiver may include various analog circuits, including at least one power amplifier (PA) and at least one low noise amplifier (LNA), respectively. The RF transmitter and receiver may in turn be coupled to one or more antennas. For example, in some specific implementations, the wireless communication device 900 may include or be coupled to multiple transmit antennas (each transmit antenna having a corresponding transmit chain) and multiple receive antennas (each receive antenna having a corresponding receive chain). The symbols output from the modem 902 are provided to the radio component 904, which then transmits the symbols via the coupled antennas. Similarly, the symbols received via the antennas are obtained by the radio component 904, which then provides the symbols to the modem 902.

[0092] The processor 906 may include an intelligent hardware block or device designed to perform the functions described herein, such as, for example, a processing core, a processing block, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) (such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof. The processor 906 processes information received through the radio component 904 and the modem 902, and processes information to be output by the modem 902 and the radio component 904 to be sent through a wireless medium. For example, the processor 906 may implement at least a portion of the control plane and the MAC layer, which is configured to perform various operations related to the generation, transmission, reception, and processing of MPDUs, frames, or packets. In some specific implementations, the MAC layer is configured to generate an MPDU to provide to the PHY layer for decoding, and to receive decoded information bits from the PHY layer for processing as an MPDU. The MAC layer may be further configured to allocate time and frequency resources, such as for OFDMA and other operations or technologies. In some implementations, the processor 906 can generally control the modem 902 to cause the modem to perform the various operations described above.

[0093] The memory 904 may include a tangible storage medium, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM) or a combination thereof. The memory 904 may also store a non-transitory processor or computer executable software (SW) code containing instructions that, when executed by the processor 906, cause the processor to perform various operations described herein for wireless communication, including the generation, transmission, reception, and interpretation of MDPUs, frames, or packets. For example, the various functions of the components disclosed herein or the various boxes or steps of the methods, operations, processes, or algorithms disclosed herein may be implemented as one or more modules of one or more computer programs.

[0094] Fig. 10A An example of a wireless communication device supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. For example, AP 1002 may be a reference Figure 1 The AP 1002 is described as an example implementation of the AP 1002. The AP 1002 includes a wireless communication device (WCD) 1010 (although the AP 1002 itself may also be generally referred to as a wireless communication device, as used herein). For example, the wireless communication device 1010 may be a reference Fig. 9The example implementation of the wireless communication device 900 described above. The AP 1002 also includes a plurality of antennas 1020 coupled to the wireless communication device 1010 to send and receive wireless communications. In some implementations, the AP 1002 additionally includes an application processor 1030 coupled to the wireless communication device 1010 and a memory 1040 coupled to the application processor 1030. The AP 1002 also includes at least one external network interface 1050 that enables the AP 1002 to communicate with a core network or a backhaul network to obtain access to an external network including the Internet. For example, the external network interface 1050 may include one or both of a wired (e.g., Ethernet) network interface and a wireless network interface (such as a WWAN interface). Components of the above components may communicate directly or indirectly with other components of the components via at least one bus. The AP 1002 also includes a housing that surrounds the wireless communication device 1010, the application processor 1030, the memory 1040, and at least portions of the antennas 1020 and the external network interface 1050.

[0095] Fig. 10B An example of a wireless communication device supporting a hopping TWT for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. For example, STA 1004 may be a reference Figure 1 The example implementation of STA 1004 is described. STA 1004 includes a wireless communication device 1015 (although STA 1004 itself may also be generally referred to as a wireless communication device as used herein). For example, the wireless communication device 1015 may be a reference Fig. 9 The example implementation of the wireless communication device 900 described above. STA1004 also includes one or more antennas 1025 coupled to the wireless communication device 1015 to send and receive wireless communications. STA1004 additionally includes an application processor 1035 coupled to the wireless communication device 1015 and a memory 1045 coupled to the application processor 1035. In some implementations, STA 1004 also includes a user interface (UI) 1055 (such as a touch screen or keyboard) and a display 1065, which can be integrated with UI 1055 to form a touch screen display. In some implementations, STA 1004 may also include one or more sensors 1075, such as, for example, one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors. Components of the above components can communicate directly or indirectly with other components of the components through at least one bus. STA 1004 also includes a housing that surrounds the wireless communication device 1015, the application processor 1035, the memory 1045, and at least portions of the antenna 1025, UI 1055, and the display 1065.

[0096] Figure 1A block diagram of a device 105 supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 105 may be an example of various aspects of a STA. The device 105 may include a receiver 110, a transmitter 115, and a communication manager 120. The communication manager 1120 may be implemented at least in part by one or both of a modem and a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0097] The receiver 110 may provide a means for receiving information, such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing hopping TWTs of wireless networks), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. The information may be communicated to other components of the device 105. The receiver 110 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0098] The transmitter 115 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 105. For example, the transmitter 115 may transmit information such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing hopping TWTs of wireless networks), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 115 may be co-located with the receiver 110 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 115 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0099] The communication manager 120, the receiver 110, the transmitter 115, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 120, the receiver 110, the transmitter 115, or various combinations or components thereof may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

[0100] In some examples, the communication manager 120, the receiver 110, the transmitter 115, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in a communication management circuit). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting components for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor may be configured to perform one or more functions described herein (e.g., by executing instructions stored in the memory by the processor).

[0101] In some examples, communication manager 120 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, transmit) using or otherwise cooperating with receiver 110, transmitter 115, or both. For example, communication manager 120 may receive information from receiver 110, transmit information to transmitter 115, or be integrated with receiver 110, transmitter 115, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations.

[0102] According to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 120 may support wireless communications at a STA (e.g., device 105). For example, the communication manager 120 may be configured to or otherwise support components for receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The communication manager 120 may be configured to or otherwise support components for switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first target wake-up time session in the TWT session set. The communication manager 120 may be configured to or otherwise support components for communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0103] By including or configuring the communication manager 120 according to examples as described herein, the device 105 (e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver 110, the transmitter 115, the communication manager 120, or a combination thereof) can support techniques for reducing processing and more efficiently utilizing communication resources.

[0104] Figure 2 A block diagram of a device 205 supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 205 can be an example of aspects of the device 105 or the STA 104. The device 205 may include a receiver 210, a transmitter 215, and a communication manager 220. The communication manager 1220 may be implemented at least in part by one or both of a modem and a processor. Each of these components can communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0105] The receiver 210 may provide a means for receiving information, such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing a hopping TWT of a wireless network), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. The information may be communicated to other components of the device 205. The receiver 210 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0106] The transmitter 215 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 205. For example, the transmitter 215 may transmit information such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing hopping TWTs of wireless networks), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 215 may be co-located with the receiver 210 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 215 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0107] The device 205 or its various components may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 220 may include a frequency channel indication component 225, a switching component 230, a second frequency channel component 235, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication manager 220 or its various components may be configured to use or otherwise cooperate with the receiver 210, the transmitter 215, or both to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send). For example, the communication manager 220 may receive information from the receiver 210, transmit information to the transmitter 215, or be integrated with the receiver 210, the transmitter 215, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations.

[0108] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 220 may support wireless communication at a STA (e.g., device 205). The frequency channel indication component 225 may be configured to or otherwise support components for receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The switching component 230 may be configured to or otherwise support components for switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first TWT session in the TWT session set. The second frequency channel component 235 may be configured to or otherwise support components for communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0109] Figure 3 A block diagram of a communication manager 320 that supports managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The communication manager 320 or its various components may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 320 may include a frequency channel indication component 325, a switching component 330, a second frequency channel component 335, a frequency hopping mode indication component 340, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0110] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 320 may support wireless communication at the STA. The frequency channel indication component 325 may be configured to or otherwise support components for receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The switching component 330 may be configured to or otherwise support components for switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first TWT session in the TWT session set. The second frequency channel component 335 may be configured to or otherwise support components for communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0111] In some examples, to support communicating a second signal, the second frequency channel component 335 may be configured as or otherwise support components for receiving a second signal from the AP on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on switching. In some examples, to support communicating a second signal, the second frequency channel component 335 may be configured as or otherwise support components for sending a second signal to another STA on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on switching.

[0112] In some examples, switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel. In some examples, the congestion condition includes a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric. In some examples, switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric.

[0113] In some examples, the frequency hopping mode indication component 340 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for receiving a third signal including an indication of a frequency hopping mode, wherein switching from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel is based on receiving the indication. In some examples, the third signal includes a beacon signal that includes an indication of the frequency hopping mode. In some examples, the beacon signal is received by the STA prior to a service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0114] In some examples, the third signal includes a data signal including an indication of a frequency hopping pattern. In some examples, the data signal is received by the STA during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first TWT session. In some examples, the data signal includes a quality of service data signal including one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel.

[0115] In some examples, the second frequency channel component 335 can be configured to or otherwise support components for receiving an indication of a second frequency channel, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on the indication of the received second frequency channel. In some examples, the indication of the second frequency channel includes a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel. In some examples, switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on the channel index.

[0116] In some examples, the second frequency channel is based on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first TWT session. In some examples, the second frequency channel is based on a pseudo-random seed.

[0117] In some examples, the switching component 330 may be configured as or otherwise support components for receiving a third signal on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching, the third signal indicating to the STA to suppress switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0118] In some examples, each TWT session in a TWT session set is aligned with a corresponding TWT session in a second TWT session set associated with another STA. In some examples, at least one TWT session in a TWT session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA. In some examples, the STA operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

[0119] Figure 4A diagram of a system including a device 405 supporting hopping TWTs for managing a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Device 405 may be an example of device 105, device 205, or STA or include components thereof. Device 405 may include components for two-way voice and data communications, including components for sending communications and receiving communications, such as a communication manager 420, an I / O controller 410, a transceiver 415, an antenna 425, a memory 430, a code 435, and a processor 440. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., bus 445).

[0120] I / O controller 410 can manage input and output signals for device 405. I / O controller 410 can also manage peripheral devices that are not integrated into device 405. In some cases, I / O controller 410 can represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I / O controller 410 can utilize an operating system (such as ) or another known operating system. In some other cases, I / O controller 410 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or similar device. In some cases, I / O controller 410 may be implemented as part of a processor (such as processor 440). In some cases, a user may interact with device 405 via I / O controller 410 or via hardware components controlled by I / O controller 410.

[0121] In some cases, the device 405 may include a single antenna 425. However, in some other cases, the device 405 may have more than one antenna 425, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver 415 may communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas 425, a wired or wireless link. For example, the transceiver 415 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 415 may also include a modem to modulate packets and provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas 425 for transmission, and demodulate packets received from one or more antennas 425. The transceiver 415 or the transceiver 415 and one or more antennas 425 may be examples of the transmitter 115, the transmitter 215, the receiver 110, the receiver 210, or any combination thereof or components thereof.

[0122] Memory 430 may include RAM and ROM. Memory 430 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 435 including instructions that, when executed by processor 440, cause device 405 to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, memory 430 may also contain, among other things, a BIOS that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0123] The processor 440 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor 440 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 440. The processor 440 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., a memory 430) so that the device 405 performs various functions (e.g., functions or tasks that support managing a hopping TWT of a wireless network). For example, the device 405 or a component of the device 405 may include a processor 440 and a memory 430 coupled to or coupled to the processor 440, and the processor 440 and the memory 430 are configured to perform the various functions described herein.

[0124] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 420 may support wireless communication at a STA (e.g., device 405). For example, the communication manager 420 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The communication manager 420 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for switching from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session for a first target wake-up time session in the TWT session set. The communication manager 420 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switching.

[0125] By including or configuring the communication manager 420 according to examples as described herein, the device 405 can support techniques for improving user experience associated with reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient use of communication resources, and improved utilization of processing capabilities.

[0126] Figure 5A block diagram of a device 505 supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 505 may be an example of various aspects of an AP. The device 505 may include a receiver 510, a transmitter 515, and a communication manager 520. The communication manager 1520 may be implemented at least in part by one or both of a modem and a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0127] The receiver 510 may provide a means for receiving information, such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing hopping TWTs of wireless networks), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. The information may be communicated to other components of the device 505. The receiver 510 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0128] Transmitter 515 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of device 505. Transmitter 515 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0129] The communication manager 520, the receiver 510, the transmitter 515, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 520, the receiver 510, the transmitter 515, or various combinations or components thereof may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

[0130] In some examples, the communication manager 520, the receiver 510, the transmitter 515, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in a communication management circuit). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting components for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor may be configured to perform one or more functions described herein (e.g., by executing instructions stored in the memory by the processor).

[0131] In some examples, communication manager 520 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send) using or otherwise cooperating with receiver 510, transmitter 515, or both. For example, communication manager 520 may receive information from receiver 510, transmit information to transmitter 515, or be integrated with receiver 510, transmitter 515, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations.

[0132] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 520 may support wireless communications at an AP (e.g., device 505). For example, the communication manager 520 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The communication manager 520 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that a first TWT session in the TWT session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The communication manager 520 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for communicating a third signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0133] By including or configuring the communication manager 520 according to the examples described herein, the device 505 (e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver 510, the transmitter 515, the communication manager 520, or a combination thereof) can support techniques for reducing processing, reducing power consumption, and more efficiently utilizing communication resources.

[0134] Figure 6 A block diagram of a device 605 supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 605 can be an example of aspects of the device 505 or AP 102. The device 605 may include a receiver 610, a transmitter 615, and a communication manager 620. The communication manager 1620 may be implemented at least in part by one or both of a modem and a processor. Each of these components can communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0135] The receiver 610 may provide a means for receiving information, such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to managing hopping TWTs of wireless networks), user data, control information, or any combination thereof. The information may be communicated to other components of the device 605. The receiver 610 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0136] Transmitter 615 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of device 605. Transmitter 615 may utilize a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0137] The device 605 or its various components may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 620 may include a frequency channel set indication component 625, a switching indication component 630, a frequency channel component 635, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication manager 620 or its various components may be configured to use or otherwise cooperate with the receiver 610, the transmitter 615, or both to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send). For example, the communication manager 620 may receive information from the receiver 610, transmit information to the transmitter 615, or be integrated with the receiver 610, the transmitter 615, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations.

[0138] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 620 may support wireless communications at an AP (e.g., device 605). The frequency channel set indication component 625 may be configured to or otherwise support components for sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The switching indication component 630 may be configured to or otherwise support components for sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel for a first TWT session in the TWT session set according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The frequency channel component 635 may be configured to or otherwise support components for communicating a third signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0139] Figure 7 A block diagram of a communication manager 720 that supports managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The communication manager 720 or its various components may be examples of components for performing various aspects of managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network. For example, the communication manager 720 may include a frequency channel set indication component 725, a switching indication component 730, a frequency channel component 735, a hopping mode component 740, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0140] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 720 may support wireless communication at an AP. The frequency channel set indication component 725 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The switching indication component 730 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel for a first TWT session in the TWT session set according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The frequency channel component 735 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for communicating a third signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0141] In some examples, the hopping pattern component 740 may be configured to or otherwise support components for determining a frequency hopping pattern based on monitoring channel congestion associated with a set of frequency channels, wherein sending a second signal to the STA indicating a switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel is based on determining the frequency hopping pattern.

[0142] In some examples, the second signal includes a beacon signal that includes an indication of a frequency hopping pattern. In some examples, the beacon signal is sent before a service period associated with the first TWT session. In some examples, the second signal includes a data signal that includes an indication of the frequency hopping pattern. In some examples, the data signal is sent during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first TWT session. In some examples, the data signal includes a quality of service data signal that includes one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel.

[0143] In some examples, to support sending a second signal to indicate to the STA to switch from a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel, the frequency channel component 735 may be configured as or otherwise support components for sending an indication of the second frequency channel based on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel, wherein sending the second signal is based on sending the indication.

[0144] In some examples, the indication of the second frequency channel includes a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel. In some examples, the second frequency channel is based on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first TWT session. In some examples, the second frequency channel is based on a pseudo-random seed.

[0145] In some examples, the switching indication component 730 may be configured as or otherwise support components for sending a fourth signal on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch, the third signal indicating to the STA to suppress switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period associated with the first TWT session after the service period.

[0146] In some examples, sending a second signal to the STA indicating a switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on a congestion condition. In some examples, the congestion condition includes a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric. In some examples, each TWT session in the TWT session set is associated with a STA and is aligned with a corresponding TWT session in a second TWT session set associated with a second STA.

[0147] In some examples, at least one TWT session in the TWT session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA. In some examples, the AP operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

[0148] Figure 8 A diagram of a system including a device 805 that supports managing a hopping TWT for a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Device 805 may be an example of device 505, device 605, or AP or include components thereof. Device 805 may include components for two-way voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communication manager 820, a network communication manager 810, a transceiver 815, an antenna 825, a memory 830, a code 835, a processor 840, and an inter-AP communication manager 845. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., bus 850).

[0149] The network communication manager 810 may manage communications with the core network (eg, via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communication manager 810 may manage the delivery of data communications for client devices such as one or more STAs 115.

[0150] In some cases, the device 805 may include a single antenna 825. However, in some other cases, the device 805 may have more than one antenna 825, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver 815 may communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas 825, a wired or wireless link. For example, the transceiver 815 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 815 may also include a modem to modulate packets and provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas 825 for transmission, and demodulate packets received from one or more antennas 825. The transceiver 815 or the transceiver 815 and the one or more antennas 825 may be examples of transmitter 515, transmitter 615, receiver 510, receiver 610, or any combination thereof or components thereof.

[0151] The memory 830 may include RAM and ROM. The memory 830 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 835 including instructions that, when executed by the processor 840, cause the device 805 to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, the memory 830 may also contain, among other things, a BIOS that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0152] The processor 840 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor 840 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 840. The processor 840 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., a memory 830) so that the device 805 performs various functions (e.g., functions or tasks that support managing a hopping TWT of a wireless network). For example, the device 805 or a component of the device 805 may include a processor 840 and a memory 830 coupled to or coupled to the processor 840, and the processor 840 and the memory 830 are configured to perform the various functions described herein.

[0153] The inter-station communication manager 845 may manage communications with other APs 105 and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with STAs 115 in cooperation with other APs 105. For example, the inter-station communication manager 845 may coordinate scheduling of transmissions to the APs 105 for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmissions. In some examples, the inter-station communication manager 845 may provide an X2 interface within an LTE / LTE-A wireless communication network technology to provide communications between APs 105.

[0154] According to an example as disclosed herein, the communication manager 820 may support wireless communications at an AP (e.g., device 805). For example, the communication manager 820 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The communication manager 820 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that a first TWT session in the TWT session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The communication manager 820 may be configured to or otherwise support a component for communicating a third signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch.

[0155] By including or configuring the communication manager 820 according to examples as described herein, the device 805 can support techniques for increasing communication reliability, reducing latency, improving user experience associated with reduced processing, reducing power consumption, and improving utilization of processing capabilities.

[0156] Fig. 9 A flowchart illustrating a method 900 for supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 900 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof. For example, the operations of the method 900 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof. Figures 1 to 4 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the STA to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the STA may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0157] At 905, the method may include receiving a first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The operations of 905 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 905 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The frequency channel indication component 325 is executed.

[0158] At 910, the method may include switching, for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, from a first frequency channel indicated by a first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The operations of 910 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 910 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The switching component 330 is used to execute.

[0159] At 915, the method may include communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch. The operations of 915 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 915 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The second frequency channel component 335 is used to perform.

[0160] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1000 for supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 1000 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof. For example, the operations of the method 1000 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof. Figures 1 to 4 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the STA to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the STA may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0161] At 1005, the method may include receiving a first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions, each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The operations of 1005 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1005 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The frequency channel indication component 325 is executed.

[0162] At 1010, the method may include receiving a third signal including an indication of a frequency hopping pattern. The operations of 1010 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1010 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The frequency hopping mode is executed by the instruction component 340.

[0163] At 1015, the method may include switching, for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, from a first frequency channel indicated by a first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session, wherein the switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on receiving the indication. The operations of 1015 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1015 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The switching component 330 is used to execute.

[0164] At 1020, the method may include communicating a second signal on a second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch. The operations of 1020 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1020 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 3 The second frequency channel component 335 is used to perform.

[0165] Fig.11 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1100 for supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 1100 may be implemented by an AP or a component thereof. For example, the operations of the method 1100 may be implemented by a method as described in reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 5 to 8 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the AP to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the AP may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0166] At 1105, the method may include sending a first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions, each TWT session in the set of TWT sessions having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The operations of 1105 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1105 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The frequency channel set indication component 725 is executed.

[0167] At 1110, the method may include sending a second signal that indicates to the STA that a first TWT session in the TWT session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session. The operations of 1110 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1110 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The switching instruction component 730 is used to execute.

[0168] At 1115, the method may include communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch. The operations of 1115 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1115 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The frequency channel component 735 is executed.

[0169] Fig.12 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 for supporting management of a hopping TWT of a wireless network according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 1200 may be implemented by an AP or a component thereof. For example, the operations of the method 1200 may be implemented by a method as described in reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 5 to 8 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the AP to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the AP may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0170] At 1205, the method may include sending a first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a set of TWT sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state. The operations of 1205 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1205 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The frequency channel set indication component 725 is executed.

[0171] At 1210, the method may include determining a frequency hopping pattern based on monitoring channel congestion associated with a set of frequency channels. The operations of 1210 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1210 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The jump mode component 740 is used to perform.

[0172] At 1215, the method may include sending a second signal that indicates to the STA that a first TWT session in the TWT session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session, wherein sending the second signal that indicates to the STA that the switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based on determining the frequency hopping pattern. The operation of 1215 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1215 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The switching instruction component 730 is used to execute.

[0173] At 1220, the method may include communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first TWT session based on the switch. The operations of 1220 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1220 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 7 The frequency channel component 735 is executed.

[0174] It should be noted that the above methods describe possible implementations, and that the operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other implementations are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more methods may be combined.

[0175] The following provides an overview of various aspects of the disclosure:

[0176] Aspect 1: A method for performing wireless communication at a STA, comprising: receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; switching, for a first TWT session in the TWT session set, from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a second signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based at least in part on the switching.

[0177] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1, wherein communicating the second signal includes: receiving the second signal from an access point on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based at least in part on the switching.

[0178] Aspect 3: The method according to aspect 1, wherein communicating the second signal includes: sending the second signal to another STA on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based at least in part on the switching.

[0179] Aspect 4: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel.

[0180] Aspect 5: The method according to Aspect 4, wherein the congestion condition includes a threshold delay metric or a threshold throughput metric, and switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is at least partially based on the threshold delay metric or the threshold throughput metric.

[0181] Aspect 6: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 5 further includes: receiving a third signal including an indication of the frequency hopping pattern, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is at least partially based on receiving the indication.

[0182] Aspect 7: A method according to Aspect 6, wherein the third signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprises the indication of the frequency hopping mode, and the beacon signal is received by the STA before the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0183] Aspect 8: A method according to Aspect 6, wherein the third signal includes a data signal, the data signal includes the indication of the frequency hopping mode, and the data signal is received by the STA during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0184] Aspect 9: The method according to aspect 8, wherein the data signal includes a quality of service data signal, the quality of service data signal including one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

[0185] Aspect 10: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, further comprising: receiving an indication of the second frequency channel, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the received indication of the second frequency channel.

[0186] Aspect 11: The method according to aspect 10, wherein the indication of the second frequency channel includes a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel, and the switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the channel index.

[0187] Aspect 12: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first TWT session.

[0188] Aspect 13: The method according to aspect 12, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

[0189] Aspect 14: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13 further includes: receiving a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session based at least in part on the switching, the third signal indicating to the STA to suppress switching from the second frequency channel in a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0190] Aspect 15: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein each TWT session in the TWT session set is aligned with a corresponding TWT session in a second TWT session set associated with another STA.

[0191] Aspect 16: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein at least one TWT session in the TWT session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between the STA and another STA.

[0192] Aspect 17: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, wherein the STA operates within an xPAN or XR network.

[0193] Aspect 18: A method for performing wireless communications at an AP, comprising: sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a frequency channel set for a TWT session set that recurs according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the frequency channel set for each TWT session in the TWT session set, each TWT session in the TWT session set having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal instructing the STA to switch from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel for a first TWT session in the TWT session set according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first TWT session; and communicating a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0194] Aspect 19: The method according to Aspect 18 also includes: determining the frequency hopping pattern at least in part based on monitoring channel congestion associated with the frequency channel set, wherein sending the second signal to the STA to indicate switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is at least in part based on determining the frequency hopping pattern.

[0195] Aspect 20: A method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 19, wherein the second signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprises the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and the beacon signal is sent before the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0196] Aspect 21: A method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 19, wherein the second signal comprises a data signal, and the data signal is sent during a previous service period associated with the first TWT session and prior to the service period.

[0197] Aspect 22: The method according to aspect 21, wherein the data signal comprises a quality of service data signal, the quality of service data signal comprising one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

[0198] Aspect 23: A method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 22, wherein sending the second signal to indicate to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel includes: sending an indication of the second frequency channel based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel, wherein sending the second signal is at least in part based on sending the indication.

[0199] Aspect 24: The method according to Aspect 23, wherein the indication of the second frequency channel comprises a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel.

[0200] Aspect 25: A method according to any one of aspects 18 to 24, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first TWT session.

[0201] Aspect 26: The method of aspect 25, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

[0202] Aspect 27: The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 26 further includes: sending a fourth signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first TWT session, wherein the third signal indicates to the STA to suppress switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first TWT session.

[0203] Aspect 28: A method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 27, wherein sending the second signal to indicate to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is at least partially based on a congestion condition, and the congestion condition includes a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric.

[0204] Aspect 29: A method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 28, wherein each TWT session in the TWT session set is associated with the STA and is aligned with a corresponding TWT session in a second TWT session set associated with a second STA.

[0205] Aspect 30: The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 29, wherein at least one TWT session in the TWT session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between the STA and another STA.

[0206] Aspect 31: The method according to any one of aspects 18 to 30, wherein the AP operates within an xPAN or XR network.

[0207] Aspect 32: An apparatus for performing wireless communication at a STA, comprising: a processor; a memory, the memory being coupled to the processor and storing instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 17.

[0208] Aspect 33: An apparatus for wireless communication at a STA, comprising: at least one component for performing a method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 17.

[0209] Aspect 34: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a STA, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 17.

[0210] Aspect 35: An apparatus for wireless communication at an AP, comprising: a processor; a memory, the memory being coupled to the processor and storing instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 31.

[0211] Aspect 36: An apparatus for wireless communication at an AP, comprising: at least one component for performing the method according to any one of aspects 18 to 31.

[0212] Aspect 37: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at an AP, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to any one of aspects 18 to 31.

[0213] The technology described herein can be used for various wireless communication systems, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably. A code division multiple access (CDMA) system can implement radio technologies such as CDMA2000 or Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA). CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. The IS-2000 version can be generally referred to as CDMA2000 1X or 1X. IS-856 (TIA-856) is generally referred to as CDMA20001xEV-DO or high rate packet data (HRPD). UTRA includes broadband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A time division multiple access (TDMA) system can implement radio technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or Flash-OFDM.

[0214] One or more wireless communication systems described herein may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, STAs may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different STAs may be roughly aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, STAs may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different STAs may not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for synchronous operation or asynchronous operation.

[0215] Downlink transmissions described herein may also be referred to as forward link transmissions, and uplink transmissions may also be referred to as reverse link transmissions. Each communication link described herein—for example, including Figure 1 and 2 The WLANs 100 and 200 may include one or more carriers, where each carrier may be a signal composed of a plurality of subcarriers (eg, waveform signals of different frequencies).

[0216] The descriptions set forth herein in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describe example configurations and do not represent all examples that may be implemented or within the scope of the claims. The term "exemplary" as used herein means "used as an example, instance, or illustration" and does not mean "better than" or "better than other examples." The specific implementation includes specific details to provide an understanding of the described technology. However, these technologies may be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form.

[0217] In the drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference label. In addition, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a dash and a second label to distinguish between the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description applies to any of the similar components having the same first reference label, regardless of the second reference label.

[0218] The information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and methods. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned throughout the specification may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

[0219] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0220] The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium, or sent via a computer-readable medium. Other examples and specific implementations are within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or any combination of these items executed by a processor. The features of the implementation functions may also be physically located at different locations, including being distributed so that the various parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein (including in the claims), "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., "or" used in a list of items ending with "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list, so that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means: A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (e.g., A and B and C). In addition, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be interpreted as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, a step described as "based on condition A" may be based on condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "based at least in part on."

[0221] Computer-readable media include both non-transient computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another.Non-transient storage media can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general or special-purpose computer.By way of example and not limitation, non-transient computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transient medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code means of instruction or data structure form and can be accessed by a general or special-purpose computer or a general or special-purpose processor.In addition, any connection is appropriately referred to as computer-readable media.For example, if software is sent from a website, server or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0222] The description herein is provided to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to implement or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but conforms to the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a station (STA), the method comprising: receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of target wake time sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions, each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; switching, for a first target wake time session in the target wake time session set, from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first target wake time session; and A second signal is communicated on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the second signal comprises: The second signal is received from an access point on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the second signal comprises: The second signal is sent to another STA on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The congestion condition includes a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric, and Switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the threshold latency metric or the threshold throughput metric.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A third signal including an indication of the frequency hopping pattern is received, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on receiving the indication.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The third signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The beacon signal is received by the STA prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The third signal comprises a data signal, the data signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping mode, and The data signal is received by the STA during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data signal comprises a quality of service data signal comprising one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: An indication of the second frequency channel is received, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the received indication of the second frequency channel.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The indication of the second frequency channel comprises a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel, and Switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the channel index.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first target wake time session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: At least in part based on the switching, a third signal is received on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session, the third signal indicating to the STA to suppress switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first target wake time session. 15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each target wake time session in the target wake time session set is aligned with a corresponding target wake time session in a second target wake time session set associated with another STA. 16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one target wake time session in the target wake time session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the STA operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

18. A method for wireless communication at an access point (AP), the method comprising: sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of target wake time sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions, each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions having an associated service period during which a station (STA) is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that a first target wake time session in the target wake time session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first target wake time session; as well as A third signal is communicated on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first target wake time session.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: The frequency hopping pattern is determined based at least in part on monitoring channel congestion associated with the set of frequency channels, wherein sending the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on determining the frequency hopping pattern.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein: The second signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The beacon signal is sent prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein: The second signal comprises a data signal, the data signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The data signal is sent during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data signal comprises a quality of service data signal comprising one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein sending the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel comprises: An indication of the second frequency channel is sent based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel, wherein sending the second signal is based at least in part on sending the indication.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication of the second frequency channel comprises a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first target wake time session.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

27. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: A fourth signal is sent on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session, the third signal instructing the STA to refrain from switching from the second frequency channel in a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein: sending the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a congestion condition, and The congestion condition includes a threshold delay metric or a threshold throughput metric.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein each target wake time session in the target wake time session set is associated with the STA and is aligned with a corresponding target wake time session in a second target wake time session set associated with a second STA. 30 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one target wake time session in the target wake time session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the AP operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

32. An apparatus for wireless communication at a station (STA), the apparatus comprising: processor; and A memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the following operations: receiving a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of target wake time sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions, each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions having an associated service period during which the STA is expected to be in an awake state; switching, for a first target wake time session in the target wake time session set, from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first target wake time session; and A second signal is communicated on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the instructions for communicating the second signal are executable by the processor to cause the device to receive the second signal from an access point on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching.

34. A device according to claim 32, wherein the instructions for communicating the second signal are executable by the processor to cause the device to send the second signal to another STA on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein: The congestion condition includes a threshold latency metric or a threshold throughput metric, and Switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the threshold latency metric or the threshold throughput metric.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive a third signal comprising an indication of the frequency hopping pattern, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on receiving the indication.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein: The third signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The beacon signal is received by the STA prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein: The third signal comprises a data signal, the data signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping mode, and The data signal is received by the STA during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the data signal comprises a quality of service data signal comprising one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

41. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive an indication of the second frequency channel, wherein switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the received indication of the second frequency channel.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein: The indication of the second frequency channel comprises a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel, and Switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on the channel index.

43. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a duration prior to the first target wake time session.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

45. A device according to claim 32, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the device to receive a third signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session based at least in part on the switching, the third signal instructing the STA to refrain from switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

46. ​​The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each target wake time session in the target wake time session set is aligned with a corresponding target wake time session in a second target wake time session set associated with another STA.

47. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least one target wake time session in the target wake time session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA.

48. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the STA operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

49. An apparatus for wireless communication at an access point (AP), the apparatus comprising: processor; and A memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the following operations: sending a first signal, the first signal including an indication of a set of frequency channels for a set of target wake time sessions that recur according to a service interval, the first signal indicating a corresponding frequency channel in the set of frequency channels for each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions, each target wake time session in the set of target wake time sessions having an associated service period during which a station (STA) is expected to be in an awake state; sending a second signal, the second signal indicating to the STA that a first target wake time session in the target wake time session set is switched from a first frequency channel indicated by the first signal to a second frequency channel according to a frequency hopping pattern associated with the first target wake time session; as well as A third signal is communicated on the second frequency channel during a service period associated with the first target wake time session.

50. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine the frequency hopping pattern based at least in part on monitoring channel congestion associated with the set of frequency channels, wherein sending the second signal to the STA to indicate switching from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on determining the frequency hopping pattern.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein: The second signal comprises a beacon signal, the beacon signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The beacon signal is sent prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein: The second signal comprises a data signal, the data signal comprising the indication of the frequency hopping pattern, and The data signal is sent during a previous service period prior to the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the data signal comprises a quality of service data signal comprising one or more bits indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel.

54. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the instruction for sending the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to send an indication of the second frequency channel based at least in part on a congestion condition associated with the first frequency channel, wherein sending the second signal is at least in part based on sending the indication.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the indication of the second frequency channel comprises a channel index corresponding to the second frequency channel.

56. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on data associated with the set of frequency channels and collected over a time duration prior to the first target wake time session.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a pseudo-random seed.

58. A device according to claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the device to send a fourth signal on the second frequency channel during the service period associated with the first target wake time session, and the third signal indicates to the STA to refrain from switching from the second frequency channel during a subsequent service period after the service period associated with the first target wake time session.

59. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein: sending the second signal indicating to the STA to switch from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channel is based at least in part on a congestion condition, and The congestion condition includes a threshold delay metric or a threshold throughput metric.

60. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein each target wake time session in the target wake time session set is associated with the STA and is aligned with a corresponding target wake time session in a second target wake time session set associated with a second STA.

61. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein at least one target wake time session in the target wake time session set corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection between a STA and another STA.

62. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the AP operates within an extended personal area network or an extended reality network.

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