Techniques for channel access in wireless communication system

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at a multi-link device. A first multilink device (MLD) may communicate with a second MLD according to the techniques described herein. For example, the second MLD may send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link. In some examples, the beacon interval timeline may include at least one of a beacon transmit interval, and one or more service periods via which channel access over the second radio frequency link is over. A service period may be scheduled for communication on the second radio frequency link. The second MLD may then communicate according to at least one of the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service periods.

Description

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 855,740 to Patil et al., entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR CHANNEL ACCESS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS,” filed on June 30, 2022, and assigned to the assignee of this patent application. Background Art

[0003] The following relates to wireless communications at a multi-link device, including techniques for channel access in a wireless communications system.

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

[0005] The described technology relates to improved methods, systems, devices and apparatuses that support technology for channel access in wireless communication systems. In general, the described technology provides for using a first radio frequency link to negotiate and establish communication parameters for communicating via a second frequency link. In some examples, a first multi-link device (MLD) can establish communication with a second MLD according to a multi-link operation of a wireless local area network (WLAN). Specifically, the first MLD can establish a multi-link operation that includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication. The first MLD can then receive control communications through the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation, and can receive data communications through the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation.

[0006] A method for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The method may include: transmitting an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicating with the one or more first MLDs in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0007] An apparatus for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicate with the one or more first MLDs in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0008] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The apparatus may include: a unit for sending an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and a unit for communicating with the one or more first MLDs in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0009] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: transmit an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicate with the one or more first MLDs in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0010] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during the beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the one or more first MLDs based on performing the sector scan.

[0011] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the set of beacon frames includes at least one of: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination of the above.

[0012] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for transmitting, via the first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval may be skipped, or a combination of the foregoing, wherein communications during the one or more service time periods may be via the second radio frequency link.

[0013] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing a service time period setting operation to schedule the one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs. In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the service time period setting operation may be via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

[0014] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: during the service time period setting operation and allocating two or more dedicated service time periods to at least one of the one or more first MLDs, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods may be included in the one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

[0015] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the assigning may be based on a traffic profile associated with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0016] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, during the service time period setting operation and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, a request for a dedicated service time period for peer-to-peer communications.

[0017] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs may have overlapping dedicated service time periods; and sending a query to enable the overlapping dedicated service time periods based on determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs may have the overlapping dedicated service time periods.

[0018] In some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the query may be included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame. Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs; and communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period based on receiving the response.

[0019] In some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgement. Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs, the response including information associated with beam training.

[0020] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a third MLD and a fourth MLD communicate over a common overlapping dedicated service time period, and a first beamforming link associated with the third MLD may be orthogonal to a second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0021] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; determining that additional downlink buffer units can be retained after the dedicated service time period ends; and sending an indication of at least a portion of the timeline based on determining the additional downlink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0022] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs confirming availability of using the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0023] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0024] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; receiving information indicating pending uplink buffer cells retained at the at least one of the one or more first MLDs after the dedicated service time period ends; and sending an indication of at least a portion of the timeline based on receiving the information indicating the pending uplink buffer cells and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period available for communication with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0025] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs confirming availability of using the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0026] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0027] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for sending the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline via the first radio frequency link, wherein the indication may be an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the one or more first MLDs, wherein communication during the one or more service time periods may be via the second radio frequency link.

[0028] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, sending the indication may include operations, features, means, or instructions for broadcasting to the one or more first MLDs the indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the one or more first MLDs.

[0029] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, sending the indication may include operations, features, units, or instructions for sending, to at least one of the one or more first MLDs, the indication of the one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0030] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a status report from at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; and sending the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline to the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs and based on receiving the status report, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0031] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the status report includes at least one of: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination thereof.

[0032] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: sending the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period; receiving a response to the indication of the at least one opportunistic service time period from at least one of the one or more first MLDs; and communicating with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0033] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake time service time periods, and the one or more service time periods can be allocated to the one or more first MLDs for communication via the second radio frequency link using frame exchanges via the first radio frequency link.

[0034] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the beacon interval includes at least one of: the beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

[0035] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the beacon interval may be divided into a set of multiple equal-sized time blocks, and the bits in the bitmap may be associated with corresponding time blocks in the set of multiple equal-sized time blocks.

[0036] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending a management frame including an indication of the bitmap via the first radio frequency link and to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the communicating includes communicating with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link.

[0037] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

[0038] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a request for an additional time block from at least one of the one or more first MLDs based on the position of the bit in the bitmap; and sending a response based on receiving the request for the additional time block.

[0039] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or denying the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternate number of additional time blocks.

[0040] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the opportunistic service time periods may be located in a time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0041] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the one or more dedicated service time periods may be associated with a first period, and the one or more opportunistic service time periods may be associated with a second period.

[0042] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD comprises an access point (AP) MLD, and the one or more first MLDs comprise one or more non-AP MLDs. In some examples of methods, apparatus, or non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first RF link may be lower than the second RF link.

[0043] A method for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmitting the control communications to the one or more first MLDs over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmitting the data communications to the one or more first MLDs over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0044] An apparatus for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: establish communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmit the control communications to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmit the data communications to the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0045] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The apparatus may include: means for establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication; means for transmitting the control communication with the one or more first MLDs through the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and means for transmitting the data communication with the one or more first MLDs through the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0046] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a second MLD is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: establish communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmit the control communications with the one or more first MLDs over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmit the data communications with the one or more first MLDs over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0047] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for sending one or more communication parameters to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters comprising a service indication or a communication update, or both.

[0048] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for sending, via the first radio frequency link, timing information for communicating via the second radio frequency link to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0049] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0050] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the management frame exchange operation includes sending a set of multiple management frames, and each management frame in the set of multiple management frames can be addressed to at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0051] Some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for transmitting, via the first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals, or a combination thereof, wherein communication with the one or more first MLDs may be based on the transmitting.

[0052] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing a service time period setting operation via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the one or more first MLDs.

[0053] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, via the first radio frequency link and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, a request for scheduling a set of multiple service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0054] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending, via the first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the one or more first MLDs in addition to the one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the one or more first MLDs.

[0055] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD and the one or more first MLDs include at least one of: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination thereof. In some examples of methods, apparatus, or non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first RF link may be lower than the second RF link.

[0056] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD includes an AP MLD, and the one or more first MLDs include one or more non-AP MLDs.

[0057] A method for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The method may include: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicating with the second MLD in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0058] An apparatus for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link according to multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicate with the second MLD according to at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0059] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The apparatus may include: means for receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and means for communicating with the second MLD in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0060] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receive an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicate with the second MLD in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0061] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during the beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the first MLD based on performing the sector scan.

[0062] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the set of beacon frames includes at least one of: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination of the above.

[0063] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving, via the first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval may be skipped, or a combination of the foregoing, wherein communications during the one or more service time periods may be via the second radio frequency link.

[0064] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing a service time period setting operation to schedule the one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the second MLD. In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the service time period setting operation may be via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

[0065] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving an indication of an allocation of two or more dedicated service time periods during the service time period setting operation, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods may be included in the one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

[0066] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the allocating can be based on a traffic profile associated with the first MLD. Some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein can also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: during the service time period setting operation and sending a request for a dedicated service time period for peer-to-peer communications to the second MLD.

[0067] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods, wherein the first MLD and at least additional MLDs may have the overlapping dedicated service time periods.

[0068] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the query may be included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame.

[0069] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for: sending a response to the query to the second MLD; and communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period based on sending the response.

[0070] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgement.

[0071] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending a response to the query to the second MLD, the response including information requesting beam training for the first MLD.

[0072] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a third MLD and a fourth MLD communicate over a common overlapping dedicated service time period, and a first beamforming link associated with the third MLD may be orthogonal to a second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0073] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; and receiving an indication of the at least a portion of the timeline after the dedicated service time period ends and based on the additional downlink buffer units retained after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the second MLD.

[0074] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending a response to the second MLD confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0075] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0076] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; sending information indicating pending uplink buffer units retained at the first MLD after the dedicated service time period ends; and based on sending the information indicating the pending uplink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, receiving an indication of at least a portion of the timeline, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period available for communication with the second MLD.

[0077] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending a response to the second MLD, the response confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0078] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0079] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline via the first radio frequency link, wherein the indication may be an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the first MLD, wherein communication during the one or more service time periods may be via the second radio frequency link.

[0080] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media described herein, receiving the indication may include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the second MLD, a broadcast of the indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the first MLD.

[0081] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the indication may include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the second MLD, the indication of the one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communicating with the second MLD.

[0082] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: sending a status report during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; and receiving the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline from the second MLD and based on sending the status report, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0083] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the status report includes at least one of: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination thereof.

[0084] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline from the second MLD, wherein the indication may be an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period; sending a response to the indication of the at least one opportunistic service time period to the second MLD; and communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0085] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake time service time periods, and the one or more service time periods may be allocated to the first MLD for communication via the second radio frequency link using frame exchanges via the first radio frequency link.

[0086] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the beacon interval includes at least one of: the beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

[0087] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the beacon interval may be divided into a set of multiple equal-sized time blocks, and the bits in the bitmap may be associated with corresponding time blocks in the set of multiple equal-sized time blocks.

[0088] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a management frame including an indication of the bitmap via the first radio frequency link and from the second MLD, wherein the communicating includes communicating with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link.

[0089] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame. Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: sending a request for an additional time block to the second MLD based on the position of the bit in the bitmap; and receiving a response based on sending the request for the additional time block.

[0090] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or denying the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternate number of additional time blocks.

[0091] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the opportunistic service time periods may be located in a time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0092] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the one or more dedicated service time periods may be associated with a first period, and the one or more opportunistic service time periods may be associated with a second period. In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD includes an AP MLD, and the first MLD includes a non-AP MLD.

[0093] In some examples of methods, apparatus, or non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first radio frequency link may be lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0094] A method for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; communicating the control communications with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and communicating the data communications with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0095] An apparatus for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: establish communication according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including a second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication; transmit the control communication with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmit the data communication with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0096] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The apparatus may include: means for establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication; means for communicating the control communication with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and means for communicating the data communication with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0097] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a first MLD is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: establish communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmit the control communications with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmit the data communications with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0098] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving one or more communication parameters from the second MLD via the first radio frequency link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters including service indications or communication updates, or both.

[0099] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving, from the second MLD via the first radio frequency link, timing information for communicating via the second radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0100] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0101] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the management frame exchange operation includes sending a set of multiple management frames, and each management frame in the set of multiple management frames can be addressed to the first MLD.

[0102] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving, via the first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals, or a combination thereof, wherein communication with the second MLD may be based on the receiving.

[0103] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing a service time period setting operation via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the second MLD.

[0104] Some examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, means, or instructions for sending, via the first radio frequency link and to the second MLD, a request for scheduling a set of multiple service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0105] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving, via the first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the second MLD in addition to one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the first MLD.

[0106] In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD and the first MLD include at least one of: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination thereof.

[0107] In some examples of methods, apparatus, or non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first radio frequency link may be lower than the second radio frequency link. In some examples of methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the second MLD comprises an AP MLD and the first MLD comprises a non-AP MLD. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0108] Figure 1An example of wireless communications at a multi-link device system supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0109] Figure 2

[0013] An example of a communication timeline supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0110] Figure 3

[0013] An example of a communication timeline supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0111] Figure 4

[0013] An example of a communication timeline supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0112] Figure 5

[0013] An example of a beacon interval supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0113] Figure 6 An example of a process flow supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0114] Figure 7 and Figure 8 A block diagram of a device supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0115] Fig. 9 A block diagram of a communications manager supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0116] Fig.10

[0013] Diagram of a system including devices supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0117] Fig.11 and Fig.12 A block diagram of a device supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0118] Fig.13 A block diagram of a communications manager supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0119] Fig.14

[0013] Diagram of a system including devices supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0120] Figures 15 to 22

[0013] A flow chart illustrating a method of supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] In some deployments, a device (e.g., a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) device) may support multi-link operation, according to which the device may communicate via multiple different links. For example, an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) may communicate with a non-AP MLD via a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) link, a 5 GHz link, a 6 GHz link, or any combination thereof. In some systems, an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD may be able to communicate via other radio frequency links (e.g., 3.5 GHz, 45 GHz, or 60 GHz links), which may provide relatively higher data rates, freer (e.g., less crowded) operating channels, or greater link diversity. Communication devices (e.g., multi-link devices (MLDs)) may communicate with each other using multiple radio frequency links. MLDs may communicate using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 band) and a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz, 45 GHz, or 60 GHz band). The second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz band) can provide a large available spectrum for communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., Wi-Fi). Some WLANs can support multi-link operation, in which MLDs can communicate over multiple frequency ranges. For example, in addition to communicating over a high radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz radio frequency link), wireless devices in a WLAN can also communicate over one or more sub7 radio frequency links (e.g., 6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz). However, operating in the second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 Ghz link, a 45 Ghz link, or a 60 GHz frequency link) may result in high propagation losses. Due to the propagation losses, the communication between peer devices may be affected. Communication between the MLD and the MLD over a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz band) may require beamforming at both ends (e.g., transmitter and receiver sides). The MLD may communicate over other radio frequency links (e.g., a sub7 band including a 2.4 GHz link, a 5 GHz link, or a 6 GHz link) without using beamforming, and thus the MLD may send and receive communications over the sub7 band link without considering the location of the device. Additionally or alternatively, the second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 Ghz link, a 45 Ghz link, or a 60 GHz band) may not be suitable for contention-based access. In addition, communication on a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz link may result in higher resource consumption.

[0122] One or more aspects of the present disclosure may provide a technology for communication according to multi-link operation using one or more radio frequency links. Specifically, according to one or more aspects described herein, an MLD may communicate using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 band) and a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz band). Specifically, an access point (AP) in multi-link operation may transmit a control signal via a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link), and the AP may transmit data with a station via a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz radio frequency link). Additionally or alternatively, stations may transmit data to each other via a second radio frequency link (e.g., peer-to-peer communication). In some examples, an AP (e.g., an AP-MLD) and a station (e.g., a non-AP MLD) may perform service time period setting using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link), and may communicate using a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz radio frequency link) during the service time period. Communication between multiple MLDs may be based on a specific timeline for multi-link operation. A non-AP MLD (e.g., an MLD that communicates using a station) may communicate with an AP MLD (e.g., an MLD that communicates using an AP) according to a beacon interval timeline. The AP MLD may send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs on a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link) according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN. The beacon interval timeline may include at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, and channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 3.5 GHz link, a 45 GHz link, or a 60 GHz radio frequency link) is via the one or more service time periods. In some examples, the service time period may include a dedicated service time period or an opportunistic service time period. Applicants recognize that the terms "dedicated service time period," "opportunistic service time period," and "beacon transmission interval" are for explanation purposes and may be referred to using different terms.

[0123] The service time period may be scheduled for communication with at least one non-AP MLD on a second radio frequency link. In some examples, the beacon transmission interval may be followed by a set of dedicated service time periods and a set of opportunistic service time periods. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may negotiate the use of the dedicated service time period using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link). For example, a WLAN operating in accordance with multi-link operation may include a first frequency range for control communications and a second, higher frequency range for data communications. In some examples, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may negotiate the use of the dedicated service time period using a sub7 radio frequency link. Then, after data transmission on the set of dedicated service time periods is completed, the AP MLD may opportunistically use the set of opportunistic service time periods.

[0124] In some examples, the AP MLD may send a message advertising the availability of an opportunistic service time period for data communication. For example, the message may be a broadcast message or a direct message in a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link). Additionally or alternatively, an AP MLD in a WLAN operating in accordance with multi-link operation may schedule service time periods for peer-to-peer communications between non-AP MLDs (e.g., stations). For example, the AP MLD may send control information via a sub7 radio frequency link to schedule service time periods for non-AP MLDs to communicate over a 60 GHz radio frequency link.

[0125] Various aspects of the disclosure are first described in the context of a wireless communication system. Aspects of the disclosure are further described in the context of a communication timeline and process flow. Various aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flow charts related to techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system.

[0126] Figure 1 A WLAN 100 (also referred to as a Wi-Fi network) configured according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The WLAN 100 may include an AP 105 and a plurality of associated STAs 115, which may represent various devices, such as mobile stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptop computers, display devices (e.g., televisions, computer monitors, etc.), printers, etc. The AP 105 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 105. Also shown is a coverage area 110 of the AP 105, 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.

[0127] Despite Figure 1 105. Although not shown in the figure, a STA 115 may be located at the intersection of more than one coverage area 110 and may be associated with more than one AP 105. A collection of a single AP 105 and 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 105 may be divided into sectors (also not shown). The WLAN 100 may include different types of APs 105 (e.g., metropolitan area networks, home networks, etc.) 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 a direct wireless link 120 may include a Wi-Fi direct connection, a Wi-Fi tunneled direct link establishment (TDLS) link, and other group connections. The STA 115 and the AP 105 may communicate according to the WLAN radio and baseband protocols and versions for the physical layer and the MAC layer from IEEE 802.11, and versions include but are not limited to 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11ah, 802.11ax, etc. In other embodiments, peer-to-peer connections or ad hoc networks may be implemented within the WLAN 100.

[0128] In some cases, a STA 115 (or AP 105) may be detected by the central AP 105, but not by other STAs 115 in the coverage area 110 of the central AP 105. For example, one STA 115 may be at one end of the coverage area 110 of the central AP 105, while another STA 115 may be at the other end. Therefore, two STAs 115 may communicate with the AP 105, 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 the STAs 115 may not avoid transmitting on top of each other. STAs 115 whose transmissions are not recognizable but are within the same coverage area 110 may be referred to as hidden nodes. CSMA / CA may be supplemented by exchanging RTS packets sent by the transmitting STA 115 (or AP 105) and CTS packets sent by the receiving STA 115 (or AP 105). This may warn other devices within the range of the sender and receiver not to transmit during the main transmission. Therefore, RTS / CTS can help alleviate the hidden node problem.

[0129] In some embodiments, the WLAN 100 may support multi-link operation, according to which two or more devices may communicate via two or more wireless links (e.g., two or more radio frequency links). In such embodiments, the WLAN 100 may include one or more MLDs capable of communicating (e.g., transmitting or receiving) via multiple links. In some aspects, two or more STAs 115 may be associated or affiliated with a first MLD (e.g., non-AP MLD 130), and two or more APs 105 may be associated or affiliated with a second MLD (e.g., AP MLD 135). The two or more STAs 115 or APs 105 associated or affiliated with the MLD may be associated with multiple functions of the MLD.

[0130] For example, the MLD may be a device capable of communicating via multiple radio frequency links, and the operation or function of the MLD at each of the multiple radio frequency links may be described as being performed by the corresponding STA 115 (in the example where the MLD is the non-AP MLD 130) or the corresponding AP 105 (in the example where the MLD is the AP MLD 135). In this way, the non-AP MLD 130 may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) via the first radio frequency link using the first STA 115, and may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) via the second radio frequency link using the second STA 115. Similarly, the AP MLD 135 may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) via the first radio frequency link using the first AP 105, and may communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) via the second radio frequency link using the second AP 105. For example, the non-AP MLD 130 may effectively communicate with the AP MLD 135 using the first STA-AP pair via the wireless link 120a and using the second STA-AP pair via the wireless link 120b.

[0131] The non-AP MLD 130 and the AP MLD 135 may communicate via various radio frequency links, including 2.4 GHz links, 5 GHz links, and 6 GHz links. In some systems, the 2.4 GHz links, 5 GHz links, and 6 GHz links may be relatively easy to access. For example, the non-AP MLD 130 and the AP MLD 135 may access or communicate using any one or more of the 2.4 GHz links, 5 GHz links, and 6 GHz links (e.g., transmitting or receiving via them) without negotiating access on different links, without requiring access restrictions (e.g., access restrictions associated with service types), or without applying techniques associated with mitigating propagation path losses (e.g., focusing transmission and reception in a specific direction via beamforming). However, some other radio frequency links may be associated with access restrictions or difficulties, and in some embodiments, the non-AP MLD 130 and the AP MLD 135 may use any one or more of the 2.4 GHz links, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz links to support and facilitate communication via such other radio frequency links.

[0132] Such other radio frequency links may include 3.5 GHz links, 45 GHz links, or 60 GHz links. For example, access restrictions to 3.5 GHz links may be associated with other devices (e.g., existing devices) that already have access and priority to 3.5 GHz links. For example, some military and commercial devices may operate via 3.5 GHz links, and such devices may have priority to 3.5 GHz links. Therefore, although some Wi-Fi devices or other wireless devices may be allowed to use 3.5 GHz links, such devices may be configured or indicated to be turned off or backed off when existing devices are transmitting. Therefore, it may be impractical to use 3.5 GHz links to discover, set up, and coordinate exchanges for devices that may be deprioritized (because they may be interrupted or excluded from transmission relatively frequently). Access restrictions to 45 GHz links or 60 GHz links may be associated with characteristics and challenges associated with communications at relatively high radio frequencies. In addition, 45 GHz links and 60 GHz links may be associated with accessibility issues (due to relatively high propagation path losses) and the use of beamforming (e.g., highly concentrated transmissions) to achieve suitable signal quality. Such reachability issues and the use of beamforming may also make discovery, setup, and coordinated exchanges using 45 GHz links or 60 GHz links impractical because the reachability issues and the use of beamforming may cause the communication devices to send or receive relatively large amounts of overhead signaling or to experience link failures relatively frequently, or both.

[0133] Communication devices can operate on multiple RF links to improve resource utilization. However, operating on a 60 GHz RF link may present several challenges. Due to higher propagation losses, devices using a 60 GHz RF link for communication may perform beamforming for communication. In addition, AP-MLD and non-AP MLD may not be able to effectively perform contention-based access in a 60 GHz RF link. One or more techniques described herein provide for enhancing communications using a 60 GHz RF link, making the 60 GHz RF link more accessible and more reliable.

[0134] In some aspects, the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD may communicate using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link) as an anchor link. In some examples, operations on a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link) may include repeating beacon intervals. Each beacon interval may include a beacon header interval and a data transmission interval. Additionally or alternatively, the beacon header interval may include three sub-intervals: a beacon transmission interval, during which the AP transmits multiple directional beacons; an associated beamforming training, during which the station performs beam training to communicate with the AP; and an announcement transmission interval, during which the AP exchanges management frames with associated and beam-trained stations. The data transmission interval may include one or more contention-based access periods and a scheduled service time period (SP) for exchanging data frames. The service time period may be dynamic or pseudo-static in nature. In some examples, the AP and the station may transmit data during the data transmission interval. Communications during the data transmission interval may be contention-based or according to a scheduled service time period. In some aspects, channel access based on the service time period may have several benefits. For example, service period-based channel access may be more efficient than contention-based access periods (because the service period duration can be adapted to meet traffic needs), may have a deterministic time for communication (using beam directivity), and may enhance reliable communication. However, setting a service period may involve AP polling (to collect resource requirements) and performing service period announcements. In some examples, such service period announcements may be performed during an early portion of a data transmission interval, thereby reducing the available time during the data transmission interval for exchanging data.

[0135] Aspects of the present disclosure provide for setting up a service period using a sub7 radio frequency link and performing data communications during the service period using a 60 GHz radio frequency link. The AP MLD 135 and the non-AP MLD 130 may use the 60 GHz radio frequency link as part of a multi-link operation setup involving the sub7 radio frequency link. In other words, an AP 105 operating on a 60 GHz radio frequency link may be attached to an AP MLD 135 having at least one other AP 105 operating on a sub7 radio frequency link. The AP MLD 135 may use the techniques described herein to use the sub7 radio frequency link as an anchor link to facilitate operations on the 60 GHz radio frequency link. In some examples, the AP MLD 135 and the non-AP MLD 130 may establish communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN (e.g., WLAN 100). In some examples, the multi-link operation may include a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link) for data communications and a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link) for control communications. The AP MLD 135 may transmit control communications with the non-AP MLD 130 over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The AP MLD 135 may also transmit data communications with the non-AP MLD 130 over a second radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operations for the WLAN 100. Thus, operating using a 60 GHz radio frequency link may reduce management overhead. The AP MLD 135 and the non-AP MLD 130 may use the techniques described herein to perform management frame exchanges using a sub7 radio frequency link and data exchanges using a 60 GHz radio frequency link. Thus, the communication device may perform setup for operations on a 60 GHz radio frequency link via signaling on the sub7 radio frequency link. That is, the communication device may use the sub7 radio frequency link to coordinate transmissions between 60 GHz participants.

[0136] Figure 2 An example of a communication timeline 200 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Figure 2An example communication timeline 200 is shown to support operations for setting up a second radio frequency link using a first radio frequency link. In some implementations, the communication timeline 200 can implement aspects of the system 100 for wireless communication. Aspects of the communication timeline 200 can be implemented in a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network that implements one or more 802.11 family standards (e.g., 802.11ax, 802.11ac, or some other Wi-Fi standard). In general, a wireless communication system (e.g., the system 100 for wireless communication) can be configured to support multi-link operations. In an example of multi-link operations, an AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs can communicate using one or more links.

[0137] The multi-link operation framework may enable the non-AP MLD to perform one or more operations by monitoring a single link. That is, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may determine the timing synchronization function (or any other timing) for the 60 GHz radio link from the sub7 radio link. In the multi-link operation framework, there may be a fixed timing synchronization function offset between the links. Therefore, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may use the timing synchronization function of the sub7 radio link as a reference. According to one or more aspects, the AP MLD may provide a service indication and an indication for one or more update indications via a beacon on the sub7 radio link. In some cases, the non-AP MLD may not monitor the beacon on the 60 GHz radio link for performing one or more operations. However, the AP MLD may use the sectorized beacon for the non-AP MLD to decide whether to request beam training. For example, if the beacon (received signal strength indicator) drops below a certain threshold, the AP MLD may perform beam training. For example, the AP MLD may determine that the received signal strength indicator is less than the threshold. In this case, the AP MLD may infer that a sectorized beacon is required and therefore may execute the beacon interval timeline. Thus, the techniques described herein provide a multi-link operation frame including a mechanism for tunneling individually addressed management frames. Thus, the AP MLD can send individually addressed management frames for 60 GHz radio links on sub7 radio links. This eliminates the need for a dedicated interval for exchanging individually addressed management frames.

[0138] The AP MLD may perform a beam training process to measure signal strengths associated with one or more beam pairs and select a beam pair associated with a suitable or maximum signal strength. In some embodiments, the beam training process according to the communication timeline 200 may be a beacon frame-based beam training process, according to which the communication device may perform beam training via one or more sectorized beacons. For example, the beacon interval 205 may include a beacon transmission interval 220, during which the AP 105 may transmit sectorized beacons in different beamforming directions during different beam training resources (which may generally refer to any one or more of the following: beam training resources 245-a, beam training resources 245-b, beam training resources 245-c, and beam training resources 245-d).

[0139] Beam training resource s1 may be associated with directional beam 235a (which may be denoted as s1), and AP 105 may accordingly use directional beam 235-a to transmit sectorized beacon frames during beam training resource 245-a. Similarly, beam training resource 245-b may be associated with directional beam 235-b (which may be denoted as s2), beam training resource 245-c may be associated with directional beam 235-c (which may be denoted as s3), and beam training resource 245-d may be associated with directional beam 235-d (which may be denoted as s4). k ) is associated. In this way, the AP 105 can sweep the set 235 of directional beams (which can generally refer to any one or more of the following: directional beam 235-a, directional beam 235-b, directional beam 235-c, or directional beam 235-d) during the beacon transmission interval 220. The STA 115 can measure the various directional beams 235 used by the AP 105 and identify the appropriate beam pair that the AP 105 and the STA 115 can use to exchange data. Therefore, the AP 105 and the STA 115 can use the appropriate beam pair to transmit data during the service time period of the data frame exchange.

[0140] like Figure 2As depicted in , the AP MLD may send a beacon interval 205 for communication between the AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs on a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub-7 radio frequency link) in accordance with multi-link operation for a WLAN. The beacon interval 205 may include a beacon transmission interval 220 and a set 210 of service time periods. The set 210 of service time periods may include one or more opportunistic service time periods 230 and one or more dedicated service time periods 225. The dedicated service time periods 225 may be associated with the first period, and the opportunistic service time periods 230 may be associated with the second period. In some examples, access between the one or more non-AP MLDs and the AP MLD over the second radio frequency link may be via one or more service time periods 210. The service time period 210 may be scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more non-AP MLDs on the second radio frequency link.

[0141] For example, the STA 115 and the AP 105 may communicate using a suitable beam pair during one or more of the dedicated service time periods 225. Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 and the AP 105 may perform beam training during any one or more of the dedicated service time periods 225. Figure 2 As shown, during the dedicated service time period 225, the AP 105 may use the directional beam 235d and the STA 115 may use the directional beam 240.

[0142] In some examples, the AP MLD may perform a sector scan of (short) beacon frames (including sectorized beacons 215 of S1, S2, S3, ..., Sk) during the beacon transmission interval 210. The set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier for beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of the beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination of the above. The AP MLD may send the beacon transmission interval 210 (using information elements) via a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link). In some examples, the AP MLD may send at least one of the following: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon transmission intervals during which the beacon transmission interval is skipped, or a combination of the above. The AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs may communicate via a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link) during one or more service time periods 210. In some examples, the APMLD may send beacons in an on-demand manner (based on a request from a non-AP MLD).

[0143] For the dedicated service time period 225, the AP MLD and the one or more non-AP MLDs may perform a service time period setting operation for data frame exchange. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may negotiate such a schedule of the service time period 210 in the sub7 radio link. The non-AP MLD may negotiate more than one service time period 210 (based on the traffic profile) in the same beacon interval 205. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may negotiate one or more service time periods 210 for the peer link. For example, the APMLD may receive a request for a dedicated service time period 225 for peer communication during the service time period setting operation and from the non-AP MLD. In some cases, multiple STAs may have overlapping service time periods (e.g., based on a target wake-up time or overlapping individual target wake-up times). The AP MLD may determine that at least two of the one or more non-AP MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods 225. The AP MLD may send a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods 225 based on determining that at least two of the one or more non-AP MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods 225. In some examples, the query may be included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame or a new frame defined for this purpose. In this case, the dedicated service time period 225 may be triggered to be enabled (e.g., based on the poll response) so that both the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD confirm the availability on the 60 GHz radio link. The poll response mechanism may include a response from the non-AP MLD so that the response serves as a confirmation of whether the non-AP MLD is ready to communicate on the 60 GHz radio link. The response to the query may include a physical layer protocol data unit or confirmation based on the trigger or a new frame defined for this purpose.

[0144] In some examples, the non-AP MLD may send a response to a query from the AP MLD. In this case, the response may include information associated with beam training. Additionally or alternatively, the response may include an indication of whether the non-AP MLD or a peer non-AP MLD has requested beam training. Different pairs of non-AP MLDs whose beamformed links are orthogonal to each other may reuse the same service time period 210 (i.e., sectorized reuse). Due to device mobility, this orthogonality may be maintained for a threshold duration. Therefore, the AP MLD may allow overlapping scheduling during the threshold time period. The AP MLD may also set an opportunistic service time period 230 during the gap between the dedicated service time periods 225. In some examples, the AP MLD may transmit an indication of an opportunistic service time period 230 in a sub7 radio link. Such an opportunistic service time period 230 may be in addition to a dedicated service time period 225 previously negotiated between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD.

[0145] In some examples, one or more service time periods 210 may include a set of target wake-up time service time periods. In some examples, one or more service time periods 210 may be allocated to a non-AP MLD for communication via a 60GHz radio frequency link using frame exchange via a sub7 radio frequency link. Thus, a multi-link operation frame (supporting the communication timeline 200) allows target wake-up time settings for another link (tunnel). The non-AP MLD may be beamformed and may be ready at the start of the service time period. If not triggered, the non-AP MLD may transition to a power saving mode after a timeout period. If the service time period 210 is shared (i.e., overlapping individual target wait times or broadcast target wake-up times), it may be triggered to enable. In some examples, the AP MLD may send a trigger at the start of the service time period 210 to indicate which non-AP MLD is the intended recipient during the service time period. If the service time period 210 is dedicated to a single non-AP MLD, a trigger may not be used to enable the service time period 210.

[0146] Figure 3 An example of a communication timeline 300 is shown that supports techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 3 An example communication timeline 300 is shown that supports the use of opportunistic service time periods to communicate during gaps between multiple dedicated service time periods. In some embodiments, the communication timeline 300 can implement aspects of the system 100 for wireless communication. Aspects of the communication timeline 300 can be implemented in a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network that implements one or more 802.11 family standards (e.g., 802.11ax, 802.11ac, or some other Wi-Fi standard). In general, a wireless communication system (e.g., the system 100 for wireless communication) can be configured to support multi-link operation. The AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs can communicate using one or more links according to the communication timeline 300.

[0147] The AP MLD may communicate with at least one non-AP MLD during the dedicated service time period. The AP MLD and the one or more non-AP MLDs may determine the use of the opportunistic service time period based on a polling technique. The opportunistic service time period may provide additional time to refresh pending frames that were not served during the dedicated service time period. Figure 3As depicted in the example of , during the dedicated service time period 305, at 315, the AP MLD may poll the non-AP MLD to use the dedicated service time period 305. At 320, the non-AP MLD may send a response to the poll from the AP MLD. At 325, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may perform a frame exchange. At 330, after completing the frame exchange, the AP MLD may initiate an opportunistic service time period 310. At the end of the dedicated service time period 305, if the AP has pending downlink buffer elements for the non-AP MLD, or has received an indication of pending uplink buffer elements at the non-AP MLD (e.g., via a buffer status report, MORE=1 or EOPS=0 or other means), the AP MLD may identify the opportunistic service time period 310 within the current beacon interval that can be used to resume the frame exchange. In some examples, the AP MLD may determine additional downlink buffer elements to be reserved after the dedicated service time period 305 ends. The AP MLD may then send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline after the dedicated service time period 305 ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period 310 for communication with at least one non-AP MLD. The AP MLD may receive a response from the non-AP MLD confirming availability to use the opportunistic service time period 310. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may communicate during the opportunistic service time period 310 based on receiving the response.

[0148] Additionally or alternatively, the AP MLD may receive information indicating pending uplink buffer cells retained at the non-AP MLD after the dedicated service time period 305 ends. The AP MLD may send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline after the dedicated service time period 305 ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period available for communication with the non-AP MLD. The AP MLD may receive a response confirming availability to use the at least one opportunistic service time period 310. In some examples, the AP MLD may communicate with the non-AP MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period 310 based on receiving the response. At 335, the AP MLD may poll the non-AP MLD to use the opportunistic service time period 310. At 340, the non-AP MLD may send a response to the poll from the AP MLD. At 345, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may perform a frame exchange. At 350, after completing the frame exchange, the AP MLD may initiate a second opportunistic service time period.

[0149] According to one or more aspects described herein, an AP MLD may send an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods 310 available for communication with one or more first MLDs via a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link). In some examples, communication during the one or more service time periods is via a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link). For example, the AP MLD may poll in the sub7 radio frequency link to identify non-AP MLDs requesting more resources than have been negotiated for the 60 GHz radio frequency link (the polling in the sub7 radio frequency link may be via a null data packet feedback report poll or a buffer status report poll). In some examples, the AP MLD may send an indication of the opportunistic service time period 310 via the sub7 radio frequency link. For example, the AP MLD may broadcast an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the non-AP MLDs to the non-AP MLDs. Alternatively, the AP MLD may send an indication of the availability of the opportunistic service time period 310 in a separately addressed frame (1:1). The AP MLD may indicate the exact opportunistic service time period 310. Alternatively, the AP MLD may not identify the exact opportunistic service time period for each non-AP MLD (including enabling triggered opportunistic service time periods so that the non-AP MLD knows whether it is served during a particular service time period). In some examples, the non-AP MLD may enter an inactive time period if no timing function is received after a certain timeout (meaning the AP MLD has not sent a timing function on the AP MLD's sector).

[0150] Figure 4

[0046] Shown is an example of a communication timeline 400 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 4 An example communication timeline 400 is shown that supports the use of opportunistic service time periods to communicate during gaps between multiple dedicated service time periods. In some embodiments, the communication timeline 400 can implement aspects of the system 100 for wireless communication. Aspects of the communication timeline 400 can be implemented in a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network that implements one or more 802.11 family standards (e.g., 802.11ax, 802.11ac, or some other Wi-Fi standard). In general, a wireless communication system (e.g., the system 100 for wireless communication) can be configured to support multi-link operation. The AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs can communicate using one or more links according to the communication timeline 300.

[0151] The AP MLD may communicate with at least one non-AP MLD during the dedicated service period. The AP MLD and the one or more non-AP MLDs may communicate with each other according to the reference Figure 4 One or more aspects of the present invention may be used to determine the use of an opportunistic service time period. Figure 4 As depicted in the example of , after completing the frame exchange associated with the dedicated service time period, the AP MLD may initiate an opportunistic service time period 405. At the end of the dedicated service time period, at 410, the AP MLD may poll the non-AP MLDs (e.g., STAx and STA y) to use the opportunistic service time period 405. At 420, the first non-AP MLD (e.g., STA x) may send a response to the poll from the AP MLD. At 425, the other non-AP MLDs (e.g., STA y) may go to sleep after a timeout period. At 415, the AP MLD and the first non-AP MLD (e.g., STA x) may perform a frame exchange.

[0152] According to one or more aspects described herein, an AP MLD or a non-AP MLD or both may determine the need for an additional service time period (i.e., participating in an opportunistic service time period 405) based on a status during a dedicated service time period. The AP MLD may receive a status report from a non-AP MLD during a dedicated service time period. The AP MLD may receive an indication of at least a portion of a timeline based on receiving the status report and sending an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period 405 to the non-AP MLD, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period 405. The status report may include at least one of the following: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination of the above. Based on the techniques described herein, the AP MLD may identify one or more non-AP MLDs requesting (or requiring) additional service time periods. In some cases, the AP MLD may send a poll at the beginning of the opportunistic service time period 405. The non-AP MLD may wake up at the beginning of the opportunistic service time period 405 to determine whether the AP is triggered in its sector. In some examples, a buffer status report poll on a sub7 radio link may be used to indicate a buffer status, and the buffer status may provide a status on an uplink buffer unit. Therefore, the AP MLD may not perform unspecial polling on a 60GHz radio link. In some examples, the non-AP MLD may provide a buffer status for peer-to-peer communications. In some examples, the buffer status may be associated with a bandwidth-time product of a 60 GHz radio link and a link identifier. The AP MLD may also assist with an off-channel target wake-up time.

[0153] In some examples, the opportunistic service time period 405 may be contention based. The AP MLD may send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period 405. The AP MLD may receive a response to the indication of at least one opportunistic service time period 405, and may communicate with the non-AP MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period 405 based on receiving the response. For example, the AP MLD may switch its radio to an omni-directional mode during the opportunistic service time period 405 to listen for the non-AP MLD. The non-AP MLD may contend for the medium and may send a directional poll (e.g., a power save poll or a quality of service poll) to the AP MLD. In this case, if the APMLD receives polls from more than one non-AP MLD, the AP MLD may send a directional response to one non-AP MLD. In some examples, if the non-AP MLD does not receive a response within a timeout period, the non-AP MLD may enter an inactive mode.

[0154] Figure 5 An example of a beacon interval 500 that supports techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Figure 5 An example beacon interval 500 is shown to support operation of using a first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link) to set up for a second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link). In some embodiments, the beacon interval 500 can implement aspects of the system 100 for wireless communication. In an example of multi-link operation, an AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs can communicate according to the beacon interval 500.

[0155] The channel used for the first radio link (e.g., sub7 radio link) may be different from the channel used for the second radio link (e.g., 60 GHz radio link). For example, in a 60 GHz radio link, overlapping basic service sets may have little or no interference due to high path loss. In the basic service set, transmissions may be highly directional and may be fully scheduled so that both the AP MLD and non-AP MLD are beam aligned during that time. Thus, the beacon interval 500 may be transmitted according to the updated target wake-up time schedule.

[0156] like Figure 5As depicted in the example of , the beacon interval 505 can be divided into X equal-sized time blocks, each size X divided by the size of the beacon interval 505. In some examples, the beacon interval 505 can be divided into a set of equal-sized time blocks, where a bit in the bitmap is associated with a corresponding time block in the set of equal-sized time blocks. For example, a 100ms long beacon interval can be divided into 80 time blocks, and a bit in the (10 octets) bitmap can represent a time block of size 1.25ms. In some examples, the functions within the beacon interval 505 can be represented by time blocks. As Figure 5 As depicted in the example of , beacon interval 505 may be divided into sectorized beacons 515. Figure 5 In the example of , 3 time blocks can be used for the beacon transmission interval 520. The remaining time in the beacon interval 505 can be allocated to the multiple non-AP MLDs based on their service needs. In some examples, a first set of service time periods 525 can be designated for communication with a first non-AP MLD (e.g., STA1), a second set of service time periods 530 can be designated for communication with a second non-AP MLD (e.g., STA2), a third set of service time periods 535 can be designated for communication with a third non-AP MLD (e.g., STA3), and a fourth set of service time periods 540 can be designated for communication with a fourth non-AP MLD (e.g., STA4).

[0157] In some examples, the AP MLD may send a beacon carrying a bitmap in the sub7 radio link that indicates which time blocks are available for use or in use (using 0 or 1). In some examples, the non-AP MLD may negotiate (1:1) on the sub7 radio link to add or remove time blocks. For example, the AP MLD may send a management frame including an indication of the bitmap. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may communicate via a 60GHz radio link. The management frame may include a beacon frame or a probe response frame. In some examples, the AP MLD may receive a request for an additional time block from at least one non-AP MLD based on the position of a bit in the bitmap. For example, if the bit position is indicated as 0, the non-AP MLD may request to add a time block. The AP MLD may accept or reject the request or may propose an alternative time block for the non-AP MLD. In some examples, the AP MLD may send a response based on receiving the request for an additional time block. The response may include information accepting the request for an additional time block or rejecting the request for an additional time block or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks.

[0158] According to one or more aspects, the AP MLD may send an indication of a communication schedule via a sub7 radio frequency link, wherein each bit is set to 1 for the allocated time slot. In some examples, the schedule may be included in a beacon transmission interval and may be associated with an AP MLD, a pair of AP MLDs and non-AP MLDs, and peer-to-peer communications. In some aspects, the AP MLD and one or more non-AP MLDs may include at least one of the following: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination of the above. A single-link single-radio device may operate only on a 60 GHz radio frequency link, a multi-link single-radio device may operate on one frequency band at a time, and a multi-link multi-radio device may operate on more than one frequency band simultaneously. In some examples, a multi-link multi-radio device may have at least one radio device operating on a sub7 radio frequency link.

[0159] Figure 6 An example of a process flow 600 that supports techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. In some examples, the process flow 600 can implement various aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the communication timelines 200, 300, and 400, and the beacon interval 500. The process flow 600 can show examples of an AP MLD 135-b and a non-AP MLD 130-b. The AP MLD 135-b and the non-AP MLD 130-b can be reference Figure 1 An example of an AP MLD 135 and a non-AP MLD 130 is described. Alternative examples below may be implemented where some of the processes are performed in a different order than the sequence or are not performed. In some cases, the process may include additional features not mentioned below, or other processes may be added.

[0160] At 605, AP MLD 135-b may send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between AP MLD 135-b and one or more non-AP MLDs (including non-AP MLD 130-b) on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a WLAN. In some examples, the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more non-AP MLDs and the AP MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with non-AP MLD 130-b of the one or more non-AP MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The one or more service time periods may include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, wherein the opportunistic service time periods are located in time gaps between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0161] At 610, AP MLD 135-b may perform a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during a beacon transmission interval. In some examples, AP MLD 135-b may communicate with one or more first MLDs based on performing the sector scan. In some examples, the set of beacon frames may include at least one of a basic service set identifier identifying a second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination thereof.

[0162] At 615, the AP MLD 135-b may perform a service time period setting operation to schedule one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the non-AP MLD 130-b. For example, the AP MLD may allocate two or more dedicated service time periods to the non-AP MLD 130-b during the service time period setting operation. In some examples, the two or more dedicated service time periods may be included in one or more service time periods in the beacon interval. In some examples, the service time period setting operation may be via the first radio frequency link (e.g., a sub7 radio frequency link) or the second radio frequency link (e.g., a 60 GHz radio frequency link). At 620, the AP MLD 135-b and the non-AP MLD 130-b may communicate according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0163] Figure 7A block diagram 700 of a device 705 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 705 may be an example of aspects of the AP described herein. The device 705 may include a receiver 710, a transmitter 715, and a communication manager 720. The device 705 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0164] The receiver 710 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for channel access in wireless communication systems). The information may be communicated to other components of the device 705. The receiver 710 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0165] The transmitter 715 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by the other components of the device 705. The transmitter 715 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0166] The communication manager 720, the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, the communication manager 720, the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or various combinations thereof, or components thereof may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

[0167] In some examples, the communication manager 720, the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or various combinations or components thereof can be implemented in hardware (e.g., in a communication management circuit). The hardware can include any combination of a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or a unit configured to or otherwise support the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor can be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing instructions stored in the memory by the processor).

[0168] Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the communication manager 720, the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented as code executed by a processor (e.g., as communication management software or firmware). If implemented as code executed by a processor, the functions of the communication manager 720, the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a unit for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

[0169] In some examples, the communication manager 720 can be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send) using the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or both or otherwise cooperate with the receiver 610, the transmitter 620, or both. For example, the communication manager 720 can receive information from the receiver 710, send information to the transmitter 715, or integrate with the receiver 710, the transmitter 715, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations described herein.

[0170] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 720 can support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the communication manager 720 can be configured to or otherwise support a unit for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The communication manager 720 can be configured to or otherwise support a unit for the following operations: communicate with the one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0171] Additionally or alternatively, according to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 720 may support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the communication manager 720 may be configured to or otherwise support a unit for the following operations: establish communication according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication. The communication manager 720 may be configured to or otherwise support a unit for the following operations: transmit control communication with one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The communication manager 720 may be configured to or otherwise support a unit for the following operations: transmit data communication with one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0172] By including or configuring a communication manager 720 according to the examples described herein, a device 705 (e.g., a processor that controls or is otherwise coupled to a receiver 710, a transmitter 715, a communication manager 720, or a combination of the above) can support techniques for reducing processing, reducing power consumption, and more efficiently utilizing communication resources.

[0173] Figure 8 A block diagram 800 of a device 805 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 805 may be an example of aspects of the device 705 or AP 105 as described herein. The device 805 may include a receiver 810, a transmitter 815, and a communication manager 820. The device 805 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0174] The receiver 810 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for channel access in wireless communication systems). The information may be communicated to other components of the device 805. The receiver 810 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0175] The transmitter 815 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by the other components of the device 805. The transmitter 815 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0176] Device 805 or its various components may be examples of units of various aspects of the technology for performing channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, communication manager 820 may include beacon interval timeline component 825, multi-link operation component 830, control information component 835, data component 840, or any combination of the above. Communication manager 820 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 720 described herein. In some examples, communication manager 820 or its various components may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send) using receiver 810, transmitter 815, or both or otherwise in cooperation with receiver 610, transmitter 620, or both. For example, communication manager 820 may receive information from receiver 810, send information to transmitter 815, or integrate with receiver 810, transmitter 815, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations described herein.

[0177] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 820 can support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the beacon interval timeline component 825 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The multi-link operation component 830 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate with the one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0178] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 820 may support wireless communications at the second MLD. The multi-link operation component 830 may be configured to or otherwise support means for establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The control information component 835 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting control communications with the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The data component 840 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting data communications with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0179] Fig. 9 A block diagram 900 of a communication manager 920 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The communication manager 920 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 720, the communication manager 820, or both described herein. The communication manager 920 or its various components may be examples of units of various aspects of the techniques for performing channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, the communication manager 920 may include a beacon interval timeline component 925, a multi-link operation component 930, a control information component 935, a data component 940, a sector scanning component 945, a service time period setting component 950, a query component 955, a buffer unit determination component 960, an indication component 965, a status reporting component 970, a response component 975, a communication parameter component 980, a broadcast component 990, an additional time block component 995, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0180] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 920 can support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the beacon interval timeline component 925 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The multi-link operation component 930 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate with the one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0181] In some examples, the sector scanning component 945 can be configured to or otherwise support means for performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during a beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the one or more first MLDs based on performing the sector scan. In some examples, the set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination thereof.

[0182] In some examples, the sector scanning component 945 can be configured as or otherwise support means for transmitting at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which beacon transmission intervals are skipped, or a combination of the above via a first radio frequency link, wherein communications during one or more service time periods are via a second radio frequency link.

[0183] In some examples, service time period setting component 950 can be configured or otherwise support means for performing service time period setting operations to schedule one or more service time periods on the first radio link for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0184] In some examples, the service time period setting operation is via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the service time period setting component 950 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: during the service time period setting operation and allocating two or more dedicated service time periods to at least one of the one or more first MLDs, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods are included in one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

[0185] In some examples, the allocation is based on a traffic profile associated with at least one of the one or more first MLDs. In some examples, the service time period setting component 950 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: receiving, during a service time period setting operation and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, a request for a dedicated service time period for peer communications.

[0186] In some examples, the service time period setting component 950 can be configured as or otherwise support means for determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the query component 955 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods based on determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the query is included in a trigger frame or a power saving poll or a quality of service null frame.

[0187] In some examples, the response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a response to the query from one of the at least two of the first MLDs. In some examples, the response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating during an overlapping dedicated service time period based on receiving the response. In some examples, the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgment.

[0188] In some examples, the response component 975 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs, the response comprising information associated with beam training. In some examples, the third MLD and the fourth MLD communicate over a common overlapping dedicated service time period. In some examples, the first beamforming link associated with the third MLD is orthogonal to the second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0189] In some examples, the multi-link operation component 930 can be configured as or otherwise support means for communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period. In some examples, the buffer unit determination component 960 can be configured as or otherwise support means for determining that additional downlink buffer units are retained after the dedicated service time period ends. In some examples, the indication component 965 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an indication of at least a portion of a timeline based on determining the additional downlink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0190] In some examples, response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs confirming availability of using at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, multi-link operation component 930 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0191] In some examples, the multi-link operation component 930 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period. In some examples, the buffer unit determination component 960 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: receiving information indicating pending uplink buffer units retained at at least one of the one or more first MLDs after the dedicated service time period ends. In some examples, the indication component 965 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: based on receiving the information indicating pending uplink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, sending an indication of at least a portion of a timeline, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period available for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0192] In some examples, response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs confirming availability of using at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0193] In some examples, indication component 965 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an indication of at least a portion of a timeline via a first radio frequency link, wherein the indication is an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with one or more first MLDs, wherein communication during the one or more service time periods is via a second radio frequency link.

[0194] In some examples, to support sending the indication, broadcast component 990 can be configured or otherwise support means for broadcasting to the one or more first MLDs an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communications with the one or more first MLDs.

[0195] In some examples, to support sending an indication, indication component 965 may be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs to at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0196] In some examples, the status reporting component 970 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: receiving a status report from at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period in one or more service time periods. In some examples, the indicating component 965 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: sending an indication of at least a portion of a timeline to at least one of the one or more first MLDs and based on receiving the status report, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, the status report includes at least one of the following: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination of the above.

[0197] In some examples, the indication component 965 can be configured or otherwise support means for: sending an indication of at least a portion of a timeline to one or more first MLDs, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, the response component 975 can be configured or otherwise support means for: receiving a response to the indication of at least one opportunistic service time period from at least one of the one or more first MLDs. In some examples, the multi-link operation component 930 can be configured or otherwise support means for: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during at least one opportunistic service time period based on receiving the response.

[0198] In some examples, the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake time service time periods.In some examples, the one or more service time periods are allocated to the one or more first MLDs for communicating via the second radio frequency link using frame exchanges via the first radio frequency link.

[0199] In some examples, the beacon interval includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods. In some examples, the beacon interval is divided into a set of multiple equal-sized time blocks. In some examples, the bits in the bitmap are associated with corresponding time blocks in the set of multiple equal-sized time blocks.

[0200] In some examples, the indicating component 965 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending a management frame including an indication of a bitmap via a first radio frequency link and to one or more first MLDs, wherein communicating includes communicating with the one or more first MLDs via a second radio frequency link. In some examples, the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

[0201] In some examples, the additional time block component 995 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a request for an additional time block from at least one of the one or more first MLDs based on a position of a bit in a bitmap. In some examples, the additional time block component 995 can be configured or otherwise support means for sending a response based on receiving the request for an additional time block.

[0202] In some examples, the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or rejecting the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks. In some examples, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the opportunistic service time period is located in a time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0203] In some examples, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the one or more dedicated service time periods are associated with the first period, and the one or more opportunistic service time periods are associated with the second period. In some examples, the second MLD includes an AP MLD, and the one or more first MLDs include one or more non-AP MLDs. In some examples, the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0204] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 920 may support wireless communications at the second MLD. In some examples, the multi-link operation component 930 may be configured to or otherwise support means for establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The control information component 935 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting control communications with the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The data component 940 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting data communications with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0205] In some examples, the communication parameter component 980 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending one or more communication parameters to one or more first MLDs via a first radio frequency link for establishing communications in accordance with multi-link operations for a WLAN, the one or more communication parameters comprising a service indication or a communication update, or both.

[0206] In some examples, communication parameter component 980 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending timing information for communicating via a second radio frequency link to one or more first MLDs via a first radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0207] In some examples, the communication parameter component 980 can be configured to or otherwise support means for performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for data communication via the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the management frame exchange operation includes sending a set of multiple management frames. In some examples, each management frame in the set of multiple management frames is addressed to at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0208] In some examples, sector scanning component 945 can be configured to or otherwise support means for: transmitting via a first radio frequency link at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals, or a combination thereof, wherein communication with the one or more first MLDs is based on the transmission. In some examples, service time period setting component 950 can be configured to or otherwise support means for: performing a service time period setting operation via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communication with the one or more first MLDs.

[0209] In some examples, service time period setting component 950 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving, via a first radio frequency link and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, a request for scheduling a set of multiple service time periods for data communication via a second radio frequency link.

[0210] In some examples, service time period setting component 950 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending, via a first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the one or more first MLDs in addition to one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the one or more first MLDs.

[0211] In some examples, the second MLD and the one or more first MLDs include at least one of the following: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination of the above. In some examples, the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the second MLD includes an AP MLD, and the one or more first MLDs include one or more non-AP MLDs.

[0212] Fig.10A diagram of a system 1000 including a device 1005 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 1005 may be an example of a device 705, a device 805, or an AP described herein or include components thereof. The device 1005 may include components for two-way voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communication manager 1020, a network communication manager 1010, a transceiver 1015, an antenna 1025, a memory 1030, a code 1035, a processor 1040, and an inter-AP communication manager 1045. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus 1050).

[0213] The network communication manager 1010 may manage communications with the core network (eg, via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communication manager 1010 may manage the transmission of data communications for client devices (eg, one or more STAs 115).

[0214] In some cases, the device 1005 may include a single antenna 1025. However, in some other cases, the device 1005 may have more than one antenna 1025, which may be able to send or receive multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously. As described herein, the transceiver 1015 can communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas 1025, wired or wireless links. For example, the transceiver 1015 can represent a wireless transceiver and can communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1015 may also include a modem for modulating packets and providing modulated packets to one or more antennas 1025 for transmission, and demodulating packets received from one or more antennas 1025. The transceiver 1015, or the transceiver 1015 and one or more antennas 1025, can be an example of a transmitter 715, a transmitter 815, a receiver 710, a receiver 810, or any combination thereof or components thereof, as described herein.

[0215] Memory 1030 may include RAM and ROM. Memory 1030 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1035, which includes instructions that, when executed by processor 1040, cause device 1005 to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1030 may contain, among other things, a BIOS that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0216] Processor 1040 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 device, a discrete hardware component, or any combination of the above). In some cases, processor 1040 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1040. Processor 1040 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1030) to enable device 1005 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks that support technologies for channel access in a wireless communication system). For example, device 1005 or a component of device 1005 may include processor 1040 and memory 1030 coupled to or with processor 1040, and processor 1040 and memory 1030 are configured to perform various functions described herein.

[0217] The inter-station communication manager 1045 can manage communications with other APs 105 and can include a controller or scheduler for coordinating with other APs 105 to control communications with STAs 115. For example, the inter-station communication manager 1045 can coordinate the scheduling of transmissions to the APs 105 for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming and / or joint transmissions. In some examples, the inter-station communication manager 1045 can provide an X2 interface within an LTE / LTE-A wireless communication network technology to provide communications between APs 105.

[0218] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1020 can support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the communication manager 1020 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, send an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The communication manager 1020 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate with the one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0219] Additionally or alternatively, according to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1020 may support wireless communication at the second MLD. For example, the communication manager 1020 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication. The communication manager 1020 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: transmitting control communication with the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The communication manager 1020 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: transmitting data communication with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0220] By including or configuring a communication manager 1020 according to examples as described herein, the device 1005 can support techniques for improving communication reliability, reducing latency, enhancing user experience associated with reduced processing, reducing power consumption, more efficiently utilizing communication resources, and improving coordination between devices.

[0221] Fig.11 A block diagram 1100 of a device 1105 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 1105 may be an example of aspects of a STA described herein. The device 1105 may include a receiver 1110, a transmitter 1115, and a communication manager 1120. The device 1105 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0222] The receiver 1110 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for channel access in wireless communication systems). The information may be communicated to other components of the device 1105. The receiver 1110 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0223] The transmitter 1115 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1105. For example, the transmitter 1115 may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination of the above associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to the technology for channel access in the wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter 1115 may be co-located with the receiver 1110 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1115 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0224] The communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations thereof, or components thereof may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

[0225] In some examples, the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof can be implemented in hardware (e.g., in a communication management circuit). The hardware can include any combination of a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or a unit configured to or otherwise support the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor can be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing instructions stored in the memory by the processor).

[0226] Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented as code executed by a processor (e.g., as communication management software or firmware). If implemented as code executed by a processor, the functions of the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a unit for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

[0227] In some examples, the communication manager 1120 can be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send) using or otherwise cooperating with the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or both. For example, the communication manager 1120 can receive information from the receiver 1110, send information to the transmitter 1115, or integrate with the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations described herein.

[0228] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1120 can support wireless communication at the first MLD. For example, the communication manager 1120 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, receive an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and the first MLD on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The communication manager 1120 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate with the second MLD according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0229] Additionally or alternatively, according to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1120 may support wireless communication at the first MLD. For example, the communication manager 1120 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including a second MLD and a first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication. The communication manager 1120 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: transmitting control communication with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The communication manager 1120 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: transmitting data communication with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0230] By including or configuring a communications manager 1120 according to the examples described herein, a device 1105 (e.g., a processor that controls or is otherwise coupled to a receiver 1110, a transmitter 1115, a communications manager 1120, or a combination of the foregoing) may support techniques for reducing processing, reducing power consumption, and more efficiently utilizing communications resources.

[0231] Fig.12 A block diagram 1200 of a device 1205 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 1205 may be an example of aspects of the device 1105 or STA 115 as described herein. The device 1205 may include a receiver 1210, a transmitter 1215, and a communication manager 1220. The device 1205 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0232] Receiver 1210 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for channel access in wireless communication systems). The information may be communicated to other components of device 1205. Receiver 1210 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0233] The transmitter 1215 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1205. For example, the transmitter 1215 may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination of the above associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to the technology for channel access in the wireless communication system). In some examples, the transmitter 1215 may be co-located with the receiver 1210 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1215 may use a single antenna or a collection of multiple antennas.

[0234] Device 1205 or its various components may be examples of units of various aspects of the technology for channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, communication manager 1220 may include beacon interval timeline component 1225, multi-link operation component 1230, control component 1235, data component 1240, or any combination of the above. Communication manager 1220 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1120 described herein. In some examples, communication manager 1220 or its various components may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, send) using receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or both or in other ways in cooperation with receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or both. For example, communication manager 1220 may receive information from receiver 1210, send information to transmitter 1215, or integrate with receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations described herein.

[0235] According to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1220 may support wireless communication at the first MLD. The beacon interval timeline component 1225 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link according to multi-link operation for the WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The multi-link operation component 1230 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: communicating with the second MLD according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0236] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1220 may support wireless communications at the first MLD. The multi-link operation component 1230 may be configured to or otherwise support means for establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The control component 1235 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting control communications with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The data component 1240 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting data communications with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0237] Fig.13 A block diagram 1300 of a communication manager 1320 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The communication manager 1320 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 1120, the communication manager 1220, or both described herein. The communication manager 1320 or its various components may be examples of units of various aspects of the techniques for performing channel access in a wireless communication system described herein. For example, the communication manager 1320 may include a beacon interval timeline component 1325, a multi-link operation component 1330, a control component 1335, a data component 1340, a sector scanning component 1345, a service time period setting component 1350, a request component 1355, an indication component 1360, a buffer unit component 1365, a status reporting component 1370, a response component 1375, a communication parameter component 1380, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0238] According to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1320 may support wireless communication at the first MLD. The beacon interval timeline component 1325 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link according to multi-link operation for the WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The multi-link operation component 1330 may be configured to or otherwise support means for: communicating with the second MLD according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0239] In some examples, sector scanning component 1345 can be configured to or otherwise support means for performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during a beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the second MLD based on performing the sector scan. In some examples, the set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination thereof.

[0240] In some examples, sector scanning component 1345 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving, via a first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which beacon transmission intervals are skipped, or a combination of the above, wherein communications during one or more service time periods are via a second radio frequency link.

[0241] In some examples, the service time period setting component 1350 can be configured as or otherwise support means for performing a service time period setting operation to schedule one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the second MLD. In some examples, the service time period setting operation is via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

[0242] In some examples, the service time period setting component 1350 can be configured as or otherwise support a unit for performing the following operations: receiving an indication of an allocation of two or more dedicated service time periods during a service time period setting operation, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods are included in one or more service time periods in a beacon interval.

[0243] In some examples, the allocation is based on a traffic profile associated with the first MLD.In some examples, request component 1355 can be configured or otherwise support means for: during a service time period setup operation and sending a request to a second MLD for a dedicated service time period for peer to peer communications.

[0244] In some examples, request component 1355 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods, wherein the first MLD and at least the additional MLD have overlapping dedicated service time periods.

[0245] In some examples, the query is included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame. In some examples, the response component 1375 can be configured or otherwise support means for the following operations: send a response to the query to the second MLD. In some examples, the multi-link operation component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate during the overlapping dedicated service time period based on sending to the response.

[0246] In some examples, the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgment.

[0247] In some examples, the response component 1375 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: sending a response to the query to the second MLD, the response including information requesting beam training for the first MLD. In some examples, the third MLD and the fourth MLD communicate on a common overlapping dedicated service time period. In some examples, the first beamforming link associated with the third MLD is orthogonal to the second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0248] In some examples, multi-link operation component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for: communicating with a second MLD during a dedicated service time period. In some examples, indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a timeline after the dedicated service time period ends and based on additional downlink buffer units remaining after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the second MLD.

[0249] In some examples, response component 1375 can be configured or otherwise support means for sending a response to the second MLD confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0250] In some examples, multi-link operations component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating with the second MLD during at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0251] In some examples, the multi-link operations component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating with the second MLD during the dedicated service time period. In some examples, the buffer unit component 1365 can be configured or otherwise support means for sending information indicating pending uplink buffer units retained at the first MLD after the dedicated service time period ends. In some examples, the indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication of at least a portion of a timeline based on sending the information indicating pending uplink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period available for communication with the second MLD.

[0252] In some examples, response component 1375 can be configured or otherwise support means for: sending a response to the second MLD, the response confirming the availability of the first MLD to use at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, multi-link operation component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for: communicating with the second MLD during at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0253] In some examples, indication component 1360 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving an indication of at least a portion of a timeline via a first radio frequency link, wherein the indication is an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with a first MLD, wherein communication during the one or more service time periods is via a second radio frequency link.

[0254] In some examples, to support receiving the indication, the indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, from the second MLD, a broadcast of an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the first MLD. In some examples, to support receiving the indication, the indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, from the second MLD, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the second MLD.

[0255] In some examples, status reporting component 1370 can be configured or otherwise support means for: sending a status report during a dedicated service time period in one or more service time periods. In some examples, indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a timeline from a second MLD and based on sending the status report, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, the status report includes at least one of: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination of the above.

[0256] In some examples, indication component 1360 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication of at least a portion of a timeline from a second MLD, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period. In some examples, response component 1375 can be configured or otherwise support means for sending a response to the indication of at least one opportunistic service time period to the second MLD. In some examples, multi-link operation component 1330 can be configured or otherwise support means for communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based on sending the response.

[0257] In some examples, the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake time service time periods. In some examples, the one or more service time periods are allocated to the first MLD for communication via the second radio frequency link using frame exchange via the first radio frequency link. In some examples, the beacon interval includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

[0258] In some examples, the beacon interval is divided into a set of multiple equal-sized time blocks. In some examples, the bits in the bitmap are associated with corresponding time blocks in the set of multiple equal-sized time blocks. In some examples, the indication component 1360 can be configured as or otherwise support means for: receiving a management frame including an indication of the bitmap via the first radio frequency link and from the second MLD, wherein the communication includes communicating with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

[0259] In some examples, request component 1355 can be configured or otherwise support means for sending a request for an additional time block to a second MLD based on the position of a bit in a bitmap. In some examples, response component 1375 can be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a response based on sending the request for an additional time block.

[0260] In some examples, the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or rejecting the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks. In some examples, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the opportunistic service time period is located in a time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0261] In some examples, the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods. In some examples, the one or more dedicated service time periods are associated with the first period and the one or more opportunistic service time periods are associated with the second period.

[0262] In some examples, the second MLD comprises an AP MLD and the first MLD comprises a non-AP MLD. In some examples, the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0263] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1320 can support wireless communications at the first MLD. In some examples, the multi-link operation component 1330 can be configured to or otherwise support means for establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The control component 1335 can be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting control communications with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The data component 1340 can be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting data communications with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0264] In some examples, communication parameter component 1380 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving one or more communication parameters from a second MLD via a first radio frequency link for establishing communications in accordance with multi-link operations for a WLAN, the one or more communication parameters comprising a service indication or a communication update, or both.

[0265] In some examples, communication parameter component 1380 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, from a second MLD via a first radio frequency link, timing information for communicating via a second radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0266] In some examples, the communication parameter component 1380 can be configured to or otherwise support means for performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for data communication via the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the management frame exchange operation includes sending a set of multiple management frames. In some examples, each management frame in the set of multiple management frames is addressed to the first MLD.

[0267] In some examples, the communication parameter component 1380 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving, via a first radio frequency link, at least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals, or a combination thereof, wherein communication with the second MLD is based on the receiving.

[0268] In some examples, service time period setting component 1350 can be configured as or otherwise support means for performing a service time period setting operation to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link.

[0269] In some examples, service time period setting component 1350 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending, via the first radio frequency link and to the second MLD, a request for scheduling a set of multiple service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0270] In some examples, service time period setting component 1350 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, via the first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the second MLD in addition to one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the first MLD.

[0271] In some examples, the second MLD and the first MLD include at least one of the following: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination of the above. In some examples, the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link. In some examples, the second MLD includes an AP MLD and the first MLD includes a non-AP MLD.

[0272] Fig.14 A diagram of a system 1400 including a device 1405 supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The device 1405 may be an example of a device 1105, a device 1205, or a STA described herein or include components of a device 1105, a device 1205, or a STA. The device 1405 may include components for two-way voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communication manager 1420, an I / O controller 1410, a transceiver 1415, an antenna 1425, a memory 1430, a code 1435, and a processor 1440. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus 1445).

[0273] I / O controller 1410 can manage input and output signals for device 1405. I / O controller 1410 can also manage peripheral devices that are not integrated into device 1405. In some cases, I / O controller 1410 can represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I / O controller 1410 can use an operating system, such as Or other known operating systems. In some other cases, I / O controller 1410 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or similar device. In some cases, I / O controller 1410 may be implemented as part of a processor (e.g., processor 1440). In some cases, a user may interact with device 1405 via I / O controller 1410 or via hardware components controlled by I / O controller 1410.

[0274] In some cases, the device 1405 may include a single antenna 1425. However, in some other cases, the device 1405 may have more than one antenna 1425, which may be able to send or receive multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously. As described herein, the transceiver 1415 may communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas 1425, a wired or wireless link. For example, the transceiver 1415 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1415 may also include a modem for modulating packets and providing modulated packets to one or more antennas 1425 for transmission, and for demodulating packets received from one or more antennas 1425. The transceiver 1415, or the transceiver 1415 and one or more antennas 1425, may be an example of a transmitter 1115, a transmitter 1215, a receiver 1110, a receiver 1210, or any combination thereof or components thereof, as described herein.

[0275] Memory 1430 may include RAM and ROM. Memory 1430 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1435, which includes instructions that, when executed by processor 1440, cause device 1405 to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1430 may contain, among other things, a BIOS that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0276] Processor 1440 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 device, a discrete hardware component, or any combination of the above). In some cases, processor 1440 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1440. Processor 1440 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1430) to enable device 1405 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks that support technologies for channel access in a wireless communication system). For example, device 1405 or a component of device 1405 may include processor 1440 and memory 1430 coupled to processor 1440 or coupled to processor 1440, and processor 1440 and memory 1430 are configured to perform various functions described herein.

[0277] According to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1420 can support wireless communication at the first MLD. For example, the communication manager 1420 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN, receive an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and the first MLD on the first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD through the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The communication manager 1420 can be configured to or otherwise support means for the following operations: communicate with the second MLD according to at least one of the following items: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods.

[0278] Additionally or alternatively, according to the examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1420 may support wireless communication at the first MLD. For example, the communication manager 1420 may be configured to or otherwise support means for establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including the second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication. The communication manager 1420 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting control communication with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The communication manager 1420 may be configured to or otherwise support means for transmitting data communication with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN.

[0279] By including or configuring a communication manager 1420 according to examples as described herein, the device 1405 can support techniques for improving communication reliability, reducing latency, enhancing user experience associated with reduced processing, reducing power consumption, more efficiently utilizing communication resources, and improving coordination between devices.

[0280] Fig.15 A flow chart illustrating a method 1500 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 1500 may be implemented by the AP or its components described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1500 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 10 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0281] At 1505, the method may include: transmitting an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for the WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLDs via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The operations of 1505 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described beacon interval timeline component 925 is executed.

[0282] At 1510, the method may include: communicating with one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods. The operations of 1510 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1510 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described multi-link operation component 930 is performed.

[0283] Fig.16 A flow chart illustrating a method 1600 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 1600 may be implemented by the AP or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1600 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 10 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0284] At 1605, the method may include: transmitting an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for the WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The operation of 1605 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operation of 1605 may be performed as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described beacon interval timeline component 925 is executed.

[0285] At 1610, the method may include determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods. The operations of 1610 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1610 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described service time period setting component 950 is executed.

[0286] At 1615, the method may include sending a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods based on determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods. The operations of 1615 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1615 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9The query component 955 described is executed.

[0287] At 1620, the method may include: communicating with one or more first MLDs according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods. The operations of 1620 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1620 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described multi-link operation component 930 is performed.

[0288] Fig.17 A flow chart illustrating a method 1700 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 1700 may be implemented by the AP or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1700 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 10 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0289] At 1705, the method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including a second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The operations of 1705 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1705 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described multi-link operation component 930 is performed.

[0290] At 1710, the method may include transmitting control communications to one or more first MLDs via a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a WLAN. The operations of 1710 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1710 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described control information component 935 is executed.

[0291] At 1715, the method may include: transmitting data communications with one or more first MLDs via a second radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 1715 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1715 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described data component 940 is executed.

[0292] Fig.18A flow chart illustrating a method 1800 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 1800 may be implemented by the AP or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1800 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 10 In some examples, the AP may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0293] At 1805, the method may include: sending one or more communication parameters to one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link for establishing communication according to multi-link operation for the WLAN, the one or more communication parameters including a service indication or a communication update, or both. The operation of 1805 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operation of 1805 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described communication parameters component 980 is performed.

[0294] At 1810, the method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including a second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The operations of 1810 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1810 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described multi-link operation component 930 is performed.

[0295] At 1815, the method may include transmitting control communications to one or more first MLDs via a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 1815 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1815 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described control information component 935 is executed.

[0296] At 1820, the method may include: transmitting data communications with one or more first MLDs via a second radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 1820 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1820 may be as described in reference to Fig. 9 The described data component 940 is executed.

[0297] Fig.19A flow chart illustrating a method 1900 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 1900 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1900 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 6 as well as Figures 11 to 14 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0298] At 1905, the method may include: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and a first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The operations of 1905 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1905 may be performed as described in reference to Fig.13 The described beacon interval timeline component 1325 is executed.

[0299] At 1910, the method may include: communicating with a second MLD according to at least one of: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods. The operations of 1910 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 1910 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described multi-link operation component 1330 is performed.

[0300] Fig. 20 A flowchart illustrating a method 2000 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 2000 may be implemented by the STA or its components herein. For example, the operations of the method 2000 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 6 as well as Figures 11 to 14 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0301] At 2005, the method may include: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and a first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with multi-link operation for a WLAN, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via the second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link. The operations of 2005 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2005 may be performed as described in reference to Fig.13 The described beacon interval timeline component 1325 is executed.

[0302] At 2010, the method may include receiving a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods, wherein the first MLD and at least the additional MLD have overlapping dedicated service time periods. The operations of 2010 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2010 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described request component 1355 is executed.

[0303] At 2015, the method may include: sending a response to the query to the second MLD. The operations of 2015 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2015 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described response component 1375 is executed.

[0304] At 2020, the method may include: communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period based on sending the response. The operations of 2020 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2020 may be as described in reference Fig.13 The described multi-link operation component 1330 is performed.

[0305] At 2025, the method may include: communicating with the second MLD according to at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval and one or more service time periods. The operations of 2025 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2025 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described multi-link operation component 1330 is performed.

[0306] Fig.21A flow chart illustrating a method 2100 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 2100 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2100 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 6 as well as Figures 11 to 14 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0307] At 2105, the method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including a second MLD and a first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The operations of 2105 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2105 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described multi-link operation component 1330 is performed.

[0308] At 2110, the method may include: transmitting control communications to the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 2110 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2110 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described control component 1335 is executed.

[0309] At 2115, the method may include: transmitting data communications with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 2115 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2115 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described data component 1340 is executed.

[0310] Fig. 22 A flow chart illustrating a method 2200 for supporting techniques for channel access in a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The operations of the method 2200 may be implemented by a STA or a component thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2200 may be implemented by reference to Figures 1 to 6 as well as Figures 11 to 14 In some examples, the STA may execute an instruction set to control the functional units 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.

[0311] At 2205, the method may include: performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for data communication via the second radio frequency link. The operation of 2205 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operation of 2205 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described communication parameters component 1380 is performed.

[0312] At 2210, the method may include: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a WLAN including a second MLD and a first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications. The operations of 2210 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2210 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described multi-link operation component 1330 is performed.

[0313] At 2215, the method may include: transmitting control communications to the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 2215 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2215 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described control component 1335 is executed.

[0314] At 2220, the method may include: transmitting data communications with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the WLAN. The operations of 2220 may be performed according to examples disclosed herein. In some examples, some aspects of the operations of 2220 may be as described in reference to Fig.13 The described data component 1340 is executed.

[0315] The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:

[0316] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: sending an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link in accordance with a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicating with the one or more first MLDs in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0317] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1 further includes: performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during the beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the one or more first MLDs based at least in part on performing the sector scan.

[0318] Aspect 3: A method according to Aspect 2, wherein the set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following items: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, the duration of a beacon interval, a service indication map, or a combination of the above.

[0319] Aspect 4: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 3 further includes: sending at least one of the following via the first radio frequency link: multiple sectors, the residence time of each sector in the multiple sectors, multiple beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval is skipped, or a combination of the above, wherein the communication during the one or more service time periods is via the second radio frequency link.

[0320] Aspect 5: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 4 further includes: performing a service time period setting operation to schedule the one or more service time periods on the first RF link for communication with the at least one first MLD among the one or more first MLDs.

[0321] Aspect 6: The method according to aspect 5, wherein the service time period setting operation is via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

[0322] Aspect 7: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 5 to Aspect 6 also includes: during the service time period setting operation and allocating two or more dedicated service time periods to at least one of the one or more first MLDs, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods are included in the one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

[0323] Aspect 8: The method of aspect 7, wherein the allocating is based at least in part on a traffic profile associated with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0324] Aspect 9: The method according to any of aspects 5 to 8, further comprising: receiving a request for a dedicated service time period for peer communication during the service time period setting operation and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0325] Aspect 10: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 9 further includes: determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods; and sending a query to enable the overlapping dedicated service time period based at least in part on determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have the overlapping dedicated service time period.

[0326] Aspect 11: The method according to aspect 10, wherein the query is included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame.

[0327] Aspect 12: The method according to any of aspects 10 to 11 further includes: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs; and communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period based at least in part on receiving the response.

[0328] Aspect 13: The method according to aspect 12, wherein the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgement.

[0329] Aspect 14: The method according to any of aspects 10 to 13, further comprising: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs, the response comprising information associated with beam training.

[0330] Aspect 15: The method according to any of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein a third MLD and a fourth MLD communicate in a common overlapping dedicated service time period, and a first beamforming link associated with the third MLD is orthogonal to a second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0331] Aspect 16: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 15 further includes: communicating with at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; determining that an additional downlink buffer unit is retained after the dedicated service time period ends; and sending an indication of at least a portion of the timeline based at least in part on determining the additional downlink buffer unit and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0332] Aspect 17: The method according to aspect 16, further comprising: receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, the response confirming availability of using the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0333] Aspect 18: The method of aspect 17, further comprising: communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period based at least in part on receiving the response.

[0334] Aspect 19: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 18 further includes: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; receiving information indicating pending uplink buffer units retained at the at least one of the one or more first MLDs after the end of the dedicated service time period; and sending an indication of at least a portion of the timeline based at least in part on receiving the information indicating the pending uplink buffer units and after the end of the dedicated service time period, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period that can be used for communication with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0335] Aspect 20: The method according to aspect 19, further comprising: receiving a response from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, the response confirming availability of using the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0336] Aspect 21: The method of aspect 20, further comprising: communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period based at least in part on receiving the response.

[0337] Aspect 22: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 21 further includes: sending the indication of at least a portion of the timeline via the first radio frequency link, wherein the indication is an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods that can be used to communicate with the one or more first MLDs, wherein communication during the one or more service time periods is via the second radio frequency link.

[0338] Aspect 23: The method according to aspect 22, wherein sending the indication comprises broadcasting the indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the one or more first MLDs to the one or more first MLDs.

[0339] Aspect 24: A method according to any of Aspects 22 to 23, wherein sending the indication includes: sending the indication of the one or more opportunity service time periods that can be used for communication with the at least one of the one or more first MLDs to at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

[0340] Aspect 25: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 24 further includes: receiving a status report from at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; and at least partially based on receiving the status report, sending the indication of at least a portion of the timeline to the at least one first MLD among the one or more first MLDs, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunity service time period.

[0341] Aspect 26: The method according to Aspect 25, wherein the status report comprises at least one of the following: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination thereof.

[0342] Aspect 27: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 26 further includes: sending the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunity service time period; receiving a response to the indication of the at least one opportunity service time period from at least one first MLD among the one or more first MLDs; and communicating with the at least one first MLD among the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunity service time period based at least in part on receiving the response.

[0343] Aspect 28: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 27, wherein the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake-up time service time periods, and the one or more service time periods are allocated to the one or more first MLDs for communication via the second radio frequency link using frame exchange via the first radio frequency link.

[0344] Aspect 29: The method according to any of Aspects 1 to 28, wherein the beacon interval includes at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

[0345] Aspect 30: The method according to aspect 29, wherein the beacon interval is divided into a plurality of equally sized time blocks, and the bits in the bitmap are associated with corresponding time blocks of the plurality of equally sized time blocks.

[0346] Aspect 31: The method according to aspect 30 further includes: sending a management frame including an indication of the bitmap via the first radio frequency link and to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the communication includes communicating with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link.

[0347] Aspect 32: The method according to Aspect 31, wherein the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

[0348] Aspect 33: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 30 to Aspect 32 further includes: receiving a request for an additional time block from at least one of the one or more first MLDs based at least in part on the position of the bit in the bitmap; and sending a response based at least in part on receiving the request for the additional time block.

[0349] Aspect 34: The method according to aspect 33, wherein the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or rejecting the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks.

[0350] Aspect 35: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 34, wherein the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the opportunistic service time period is located in the time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0351] Aspect 36: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 1 to Aspect 35, wherein the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunity service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the one or more dedicated service time periods are associated with a first period, and the one or more opportunity service time periods are associated with a second period.

[0352] Aspect 37: The method according to any of aspects 1 to 36, wherein the second MLD comprises an AP MLD, and the one or more first MLDs comprise one or more non-AP MLDs.

[0353] Aspect 38: The method according to any of Aspects 1 to 37, wherein the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0354] Aspect 39: A method for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication; transmitting the control communication with the one or more first MLDs through the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmitting the data communication with the one or more first MLDs through the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0355] Aspect 40: The method according to Aspect 39 further includes: sending one or more communication parameters to the one or more first MLDs via the first RF link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters including service indications or communication updates, or both.

[0356] Aspect 41: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 39 to Aspect 40 further includes: sending timing information for communicating via the second radio frequency link to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0357] Aspect 42: The method according to any of aspects 39 to 41 further includes: performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0358] Aspect 43: The method according to aspect 42, wherein the management frame exchange operation includes sending a plurality of management frames, and each management frame of the plurality of management frames is addressed to at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

[0359] Aspect 44: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 39 to Aspect 43 also includes: sending at least one of the following items via the first radio frequency link: multiple sectors, the residence time of each sector in the multiple sectors, multiple beacon intervals, or a combination of the above, wherein the communication with the one or more first MLDs is at least partially based on the sending.

[0360] Aspect 45: The method according to any of aspects 39 to 44, further comprising: performing a service time period setting operation via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the one or more first MLDs.

[0361] Aspect 46: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 39 to Aspect 45 further includes: receiving a request via the first radio frequency link and from at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs for scheduling multiple service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0362] Aspect 47: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 39 to Aspect 46 also includes: sending, via the first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods that can be used for communication with the one or more first MLDs in addition to the one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the one or more first MLDs.

[0363] Aspect 48: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 39 to Aspect 47, wherein the second MLD and the one or more first MLDs include at least one of the following: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination of the above.

[0364] Aspect 49: The method according to any of Aspects 39 to 48, wherein the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0365] Aspect 50: The method according to any of aspects 39 to 49, wherein the second MLD comprises an APMLD, and the one or more first MLDs comprise one or more non-AP MLDs.

[0366] Aspect 51: A method for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: receiving an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link in accordance with a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, wherein the beacon interval timeline includes at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods, channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time period is scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; and communicating with the second MLD in accordance with at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

[0367] Aspect 52: The method according to aspect 51, further comprising: performing a sector scan of a set of beacon frames during the beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the first MLD based at least in part on performing the sector scan.

[0368] Aspect 53: A method according to Aspect 52, wherein the set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following items: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, the duration of a beacon interval, a service indication map, or a combination of the above.

[0369] Aspect 54: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 53 further includes: receiving at least one of the following items via the first radio frequency link: multiple sectors, the residence time of each sector in the multiple sectors, multiple beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval is skipped, or a combination of the above items, wherein the communication during the one or more service time periods is via the second radio frequency link.

[0370] Aspect 55: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 54 further includes: performing a service time period setting operation to schedule the one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the second MLD.

[0371] Aspect 56: The method according to aspect 55, wherein the service time period setting operation is via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

[0372] Aspect 57: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 55 to Aspect 56 further includes: receiving an indication of the allocation of two or more dedicated service time periods during the service time period setting operation, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods are included in the one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

[0373] Aspect 58: The method of aspect 57, wherein the allocating is based at least in part on a traffic profile associated with the first MLD.

[0374] Aspect 59: The method according to any of aspects 55 to 58, further comprising: during the service time period setting operation and sending a request for a dedicated service time period for peer communication to the second MLD.

[0375] Aspect 60: The method according to any of aspects 51 to 58, further comprising: receiving a query to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods, wherein the first MLD and at least an additional MLD have the overlapping dedicated service time periods.

[0376] Aspect 61: The method according to aspect 60, wherein the query is included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame.

[0377] Aspect 62: The method according to any of aspects 60 to 61, further comprising: sending a response to the query to the second MLD; and communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period based at least in part on sending the response.

[0378] Aspect 63: The method according to aspect 62, wherein the response to the query includes a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgement.

[0379] Aspect 64: The method according to any of Aspects 60 to 63, further comprising: sending a response to the query to the second MLD, the response comprising information requesting beam training for the first MLD.

[0380] Aspect 65: A method according to any of Aspects 51 to 64, wherein a third MLD and a fourth MLD communicate in a common overlapping dedicated service time period, and a first beamforming link associated with the third MLD is orthogonal to a second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

[0381] Aspect 66: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 65 further includes: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; and receiving an indication of at least a portion of the timeline after the dedicated service time period ends and at least partially based on the additional downlink buffer unit retained after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the second MLD.

[0382] Aspect 67: The method according to aspect 66, further comprising: sending a response to the second MLD, the response confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0383] Aspect 68: The method of aspect 67, further comprising: communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based at least in part on sending the response.

[0384] Aspect 69: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 68 further includes: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; sending information indicating pending uplink buffer units retained at the first MLD after the dedicated service time period ends; and receiving an indication of at least a portion of the timeline based at least in part on sending the information indicating the pending uplink buffer units and after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period that can be used for communication with the second MLD.

[0385] Aspect 70: The method according to aspect 69, further comprising: sending a response to the second MLD, the response confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

[0386] Aspect 71: The method according to aspect 70, further comprising: communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based at least in part on sending the response.

[0387] Aspect 72: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 71 further includes: receiving the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline via the first radio frequency link, wherein the indication is an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the first MLD, wherein the communication during the one or more service time periods is via the second radio frequency link.

[0388] Aspect 73: The method of aspect 72, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving, from the second MLD, a broadcast of the indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the first MLD.

[0389] Aspect 74: The method according to aspect 73, wherein receiving the indication comprises: receiving, from the second MLD, the indication of the one or more opportunistic service time periods available for communication with the second MLD.

[0390] Aspect 75: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 74 further includes: sending a status report during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; and receiving the indication of the at least part of the timeline from the second MLD and at least partially based on sending the status report, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunity service time period.

[0391] Aspect 76: The method according to Aspect 75, wherein the status report includes at least one of the following: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgment frame, or a combination of the above.

[0392] Aspect 77: The method according to any of aspects 51 to 76, further comprising: receiving the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline from the second MLD, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period; sending a response to the indication of the at least one opportunistic service time period to the second MLD; and communicating with the second MLD during the at least one opportunistic service time period based at least in part on sending the response.

[0393] Aspect 78: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 77, wherein the one or more service time periods include a set of target wake-up time service time periods, and the one or more service time periods are allocated to the first MLD using frame exchange via the first radio frequency link for communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0394] Aspect 79: The method according to any of Aspects 51 to 78, wherein the beacon interval includes at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

[0395] Aspect 80: The method according to aspect 79, wherein the beacon interval is divided into a plurality of equally sized time blocks, and the bits in the bitmap are associated with corresponding time blocks of the plurality of equally sized time blocks.

[0396] Aspect 81: The method according to aspect 80 further comprises: receiving a management frame including an indication of the bitmap from the second MLD via the first radio frequency link, wherein the communicating comprises communicating with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link.

[0397] Aspect 82: The method according to aspect 81, wherein the management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

[0398] Aspect 83: The method according to any of aspects 80 to 82 further includes: sending a request for additional time blocks to the second MLD based at least in part on the position of the bit in the bitmap; and receiving a response based at least in part on sending the request for the additional time blocks.

[0399] Aspect 84: The method according to aspect 83, wherein the response includes information accepting the request for the additional time block or rejecting the request for the additional time block or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks.

[0400] Aspect 85: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 84, wherein the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the opportunistic service time period is located in the time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

[0401] Aspect 86: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 85, wherein the one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and the one or more dedicated service time periods are associated with a first period, and the one or more opportunistic service time periods are associated with a second period.

[0402] Aspect 87: The method according to any of aspects 51 to aspect 86, wherein the second MLD comprises an APMLD, and the first MLD comprises a non-AP MLD.

[0403] Aspect 88: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 51 to Aspect 87, wherein the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0404] Aspect 89: A method for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: establishing communication according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including a second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communication and a first radio frequency link for control communication; transmitting the control communication with the second MLD via the first radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and transmitting the data communication with the second MLD via the second radio frequency link according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

[0405] Aspect 90: The method according to Aspect 89 further includes: receiving one or more communication parameters from the second MLD via the first RF link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters including service indications or communication updates, or both.

[0406] Aspect 91: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 89 to Aspect 90 further includes: receiving timing information for communicating via the second radio frequency link from the second MLD via the first radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

[0407] Aspect 92: The method according to any aspect of aspect 89 to aspect 91 further includes: performing a management frame exchange operation via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0408] Aspect 93: The method according to aspect 92, wherein the management frame exchange operation includes sending a plurality of management frames, and each management frame of the plurality of management frames is addressed to the first MLD.

[0409] Aspect 94: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 89 to Aspect 93 also includes: receiving at least one of the following items via the first RF link: multiple sectors, the residence time of each sector in the multiple sectors, multiple beacon intervals, or a combination of the above, wherein the communication with the second MLD is at least partially based on the reception.

[0410] Aspect 95: The method according to any of Aspects 89 to 94, further comprising: performing a service time period setting operation via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the second MLD.

[0411] Aspect 96: The method according to any aspect of aspects 89 to aspect 95 further includes: sending a request via the first radio frequency link and to the second MLD for scheduling multiple service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

[0412] Aspect 97: The method according to any aspect of Aspect 89 to Aspect 96 also includes: receiving, via the first radio frequency link, an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods that can be used for communication with the second MLD in addition to the one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the first MLD.

[0413] Aspect 98: A method according to any aspect of Aspect 89 to Aspect 97, wherein the second MLD and the first MLD include at least one of the following: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination of the above.

[0414] Aspect 99: A method according to any of Aspects 89 to 98, wherein the first radio frequency link is lower than the second radio frequency link.

[0415] Aspect 100: The method according to any of aspects 89 to aspect 99, wherein the second MLD comprises an APMLD and the first MLD comprises a non-AP MLD.

[0416] Aspect 101: An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method described in any of Aspects 1 to 38.

[0417] Aspect 102: An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising at least one unit for performing the method of any of Aspects 1 to 38.

[0418] Aspect 103: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a code for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any of aspects 1 to 38.

[0419] Aspect 104: An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method described in any of Aspects 39 to 50.

[0420] Aspect 105: An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising at least one unit for performing the method of any of Aspects 39 to 50.

[0421] Aspect 106: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any of Aspects 39 to 50.

[0422] Aspect 107: An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method described in any of Aspects 51 to 88.

[0423] Aspect 108: An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising at least one unit for performing the method of any of Aspects 51 to 88.

[0424] Aspect 109: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any of Aspects 51 to 88.

[0425] Aspect 110: An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method described in any of Aspects 89 to 100.

[0426] Aspect 111: An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising at least one unit for performing the method described in any of Aspects 89 to 100.

[0427] Aspect 112: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any of aspects 89 to 100.

[0428] It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other implementations are possible. In addition, aspects from two or more of these methods may be combined.

[0429] The technology described herein can be used in 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 "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably. A code division multiple access (CDMA) system can implement radio technologies such as CDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 versions can generally be referred to as CDMA2000 1X, 1X, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is generally referred to as CDMA20001xEV-DO, High Speed ​​Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes broadband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A time division multiple access (TDMA) network can implement wireless 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, Flash-OFDM, etc.

[0430] A wireless communication system or system described herein may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, stations may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different stations may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, stations may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different stations may not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for synchronous operation or asynchronous operation.

[0431] 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 (including, for example, Figure 1 and Figure 2The systems 100 and 200 for wireless communication may include one or more carriers, wherein each carrier may be a signal composed of multiple subcarriers (eg, waveform signals of different frequencies).

[0432] The description set forth herein in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describes example configurations and does not represent all examples that can be implemented or within the scope of the claims. The term "exemplary" used throughout this specification means "used as an example, instance, or illustration," rather than "preferred" or "advantageous" relative to other examples. For the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques, the detailed description includes specific details. However, these techniques may be implemented without using 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.

[0433] In the accompanying drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numeral. In addition, individual components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference numeral with a dash and a second reference numeral for distinguishing between similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in this specification, the description applies to any of the similar components having the same first reference numeral, without regard to the second reference numeral.

[0434] Any of a variety of different technologies and methods may be used to represent the information and signals described herein. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned throughout this specification may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

[0435] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed using a general purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, 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 conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A 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, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such structure).

[0436] The functions described herein can be implemented by hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented by software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored on a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or codes, or transmitted by a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the present application and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or any combination of these. The features that implement the functions can also be physically placed in various locations, including being distributed so that the parts that implement the functions at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein, the "or" used in the list of items (for example, a list of items preceded by a phrase such as "at least one of them" or "one or more of them") included in the claims 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 (that is, 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, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, an exemplary step described as "based on condition A" may be based on both condition A and condition B. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" is to be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "based at least in part on."

[0437] Computer readable medium includes both non-transitory computer storage medium and communication medium, and the communication medium includes any medium that helps to transfer a computer program from one place to another place.Non-transitory storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer.By way of example and not limitation, non-transitory computer readable medium can 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 device, or can be used to carry or store the program code with the expectation of instruction or data structure form and can be accessed by general-purpose or special-purpose computer or general-purpose or special-purpose processor Any other non-transitory medium.In addition, any connection can be appropriately referred to as computer readable medium.For example, if using coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technology such as infrared, radio and microwave, software is sent from website, server or other remote source, then, coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technology such as infrared, radio and microwave are included in the definition of medium. As used herein, disk and disc include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc, wherein disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs use lasers to reproduce data optically. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

[0438] 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 those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applicable 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 is in accordance with the widest range consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: transmitting, in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline comprises at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods via which channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; Communicating with the one or more first MLDs is performed according to at least one of: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A sector scan of a set of beacon frames is performed during the beacon transmission interval, wherein the second MLD communicates with the one or more first MLDs based at least in part on performing the sector scan.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The set of beacon frames includes at least one of the following: a basic service set identifier identifying the second MLD, a sector identifier associated with beam training, a timing synchronization function, a duration of a beacon interval, a traffic indication map, or a combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: At least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval is skipped, or a combination thereof is transmitted via the first radio frequency link, wherein communications during the one or more service time periods are via the second radio frequency link.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A service time period setting operation is performed to schedule the one or more service time periods on the first radio frequency link for communication with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The service time period setting operation is performed via the first radio frequency link or the second radio frequency link.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: During the service time period setting operation and allocating two or more dedicated service time periods to at least one of the one or more first MLDs, wherein the two or more dedicated service time periods are included in the one or more service time periods in the beacon interval.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The assigning is based at least in part on a traffic profile associated with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: A request for a dedicated service time period for peer to peer communications is received during the service time period setting operation and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining that at least two of the one or more first MLDs have overlapping dedicated service time periods; as well as A query is sent to enable the overlapping dedicated service time period based at least in part on determining that the at least two of the one or more first MLDs have the overlapping dedicated service time period.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The query is included in a trigger frame or a power save poll or a quality of service null frame.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: receiving a response to the query from one of at least two of the first MLDs; as well as Communicating during the overlapping dedicated service time period is performed based at least in part on receiving the response.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The response to the query comprises a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit or an acknowledgement.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: A response to the query is received from one of at least two of the first MLDs, the response including information associated with beam training.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein: The third MLD and the fourth MLD communicate over a common overlapping dedicated service time period, and A first beamforming link associated with the third MLD is orthogonal to a second beamforming link associated with the fourth MLD.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; determining additional downlink buffer cells to be retained after the dedicated service time period ends; as well as Based at least in part on determining the additional downlink buffer unit and after the dedicated service time period ends, sending the indication of at least a portion of the timeline, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communication with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: A response is received from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, the response confirming availability to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: Based at least in part on receiving the response, communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating with at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period; receiving information indicating pending uplink buffer elements retained at the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs after the dedicated service time period ends; as well as Based at least in part on receiving the information indicating the pending uplink buffer unit and after the dedicated service time period ends, sending the indication of at least a portion of the timeline, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period that can be used for communication with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: A response is received from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, the response confirming availability to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: Based at least in part on receiving the response, communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The indication of the at least a portion of the timeline is transmitted via the first radio frequency link, wherein the indication is an indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods usable for communicating with the one or more first MLDs, wherein communications during the one or more service time periods are via the second radio frequency link.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein: Sending the instruction includes: The indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods usable for communications with the one or more first MLDs is broadcasted to the one or more first MLDs.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein: Sending the instruction includes: The indication of the one or more opportunistic service time periods usable for communications with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs is sent to at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a status report from at least one of the one or more first MLDs during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; as well as The indication of the at least a portion of the timeline is sent to the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs and based at least in part on receiving the status report, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein: The status report includes at least one of the following: a buffer status report, a data frame, an acknowledgement frame, or a combination thereof.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the indication of the at least a portion of the timeline to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period; receiving a response to the indication of the at least one opportunistic service time period from at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs; and Based at least in part on receiving the response, communicating with the at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs during the at least one opportunistic service time period.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein: The one or more service time periods include a set of target wake time service time periods, and The one or more service time periods are allocated to the one or more first MLDs for communication via the second radio frequency link using frame exchange via the first radio frequency link.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein: The beacon interval includes at least one of the following: the beacon transmission interval, one or more dedicated service time periods, and one or more opportunistic service time periods.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein: The beacon interval is divided into a plurality of time blocks of equal size, and The bits in the bitmap are associated with respective time blocks of the plurality of equally sized time blocks.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: A management frame including an indication of the bitmap is sent via the first radio frequency link and to the one or more first MLDs, wherein the communicating includes communicating with the one or more first MLDs via the second radio frequency link.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein: The management frame includes a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising: receiving, from at least one of the one or more first MLDs, a request for an additional time block based at least in part on a position of the bit in the bitmap; as well as A response is sent based at least in part on receiving the request for the additional time block.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein: The response includes information accepting the request for the additional time blocks or denying the request for the additional time blocks or indicating an alternative number of additional time blocks.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein: The one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and The opportunistic service time period is located in the time gap between the one or more dedicated service time periods.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein: The one or more service time periods include one or more opportunistic service time periods and one or more dedicated service time periods, and The one or more dedicated service time periods are associated with a first cycle, and the one or more opportunistic service time periods are associated with a second cycle.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein: The second MLD comprises an access point (AP) MLD, and the one or more first MLDs comprise one or more non-AP MLDs.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein: The first radio frequency chain is lower than the second radio frequency chain.

39. A method for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmitting the control communication with the one or more first MLDs over the first radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and The data communications are communicated with the one or more first MLDs over the second radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising: One or more communication parameters are sent to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters comprising a traffic indication or a communication update, or both.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising: Timing information for communicating via the second radio frequency link is sent to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link, wherein the timing information includes a timing offset relative to a timing value in the first radio frequency link.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising: A management frame exchange operation is performed via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein: The management frame exchange operation includes sending a plurality of management frames, and Each management frame of the plurality of management frames is addressed to at least one first MLD of the one or more first MLDs.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising: At least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals, or a combination thereof is transmitted via the first radio frequency link, wherein communication with the one or more first MLDs is based at least in part on the transmitting.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising: A service time period setting operation is performed via the first radio frequency link to schedule one or more dedicated service time periods for communicating with the one or more first MLDs.

46. ​​The method of claim 39, further comprising: A request is received via the first radio frequency link and from at least one of the one or more first MLDs for scheduling a plurality of service time periods for data communication via the second radio frequency link.

47. The method of claim 39, further comprising: An indication of one or more opportunistic service time periods usable for communication with the one or more first MLDs in addition to the one or more dedicated service time periods allocated to the one or more first MLDs is sent via the first radio frequency link.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein: The second MLD and the one or more first MLDs include at least one of: a single-link single-radio device, a multi-link single-radio device, a multi-link multi-radio device, or a combination thereof.

49. A method for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: receiving, in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline comprises at least one of: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods via which channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; Communicating with the second MLD is performed according to at least one of: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising: A query is received to enable overlapping dedicated service time periods, wherein the first MLD and at least an additional MLD have the overlapping dedicated service time periods.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising: sending a response to the query to the second MLD; as well as Communicating is performed during the overlapping dedicated service time period based at least in part on transmitting the response.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising: A response to the query is sent to the second MLD, the response including information requesting beam training for the first MLD.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; as well as An indication of the at least a portion of the timeline is received after the dedicated service time period ends and based at least in part on the additional downlink buffer cells remaining after the dedicated service time period ends, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period for communications with the second MLD.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising: A response is sent to the second MLD, the response confirming the availability of the first MLD to use the at least one opportunistic service time period.

55. The method of claim 49, further comprising: communicating with the second MLD during a dedicated service time period; sending information indicating pending uplink buffer elements retained at the first MLD after the dedicated service time period ends; as well as Based at least in part on sending the information indicating the pending uplink buffer cells and after the dedicated service time period ends, receiving the indication of at least a portion of the timeline, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period usable for communication with the second MLD.

56. The method of claim 49, further comprising: sending a status report during a dedicated service time period in the one or more service time periods; as well as The indication of the at least a portion of the timeline is received from the second MLD and based at least in part on sending the status report, wherein the indication is an indication of at least one opportunistic service time period.

57. A method for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including a second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; communicating the control communication with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and The data communication is communicated with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising: One or more communication parameters are received from the second MLD via the first radio frequency link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters comprising a traffic indication or a communication update, or both.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising: A management frame exchange operation is performed via the first radio frequency link to determine communication parameters for the data communication via the second radio frequency link.

60. An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; as well as Instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the device to: transmitting, in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between the second MLD and one or more first MLDs on a first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline comprises at least one of the following: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods via which channel access between the one or more first MLDs and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the one or more first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; Communicating with the one or more first MLDs is performed according to at least one of: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein: The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: At least one of: a plurality of sectors, a dwell time for each of the plurality of sectors, a plurality of beacon intervals during which the beacon transmission interval is skipped, or a combination thereof is transmitted via the first radio frequency link, wherein communications during the one or more service time periods are via the second radio frequency link.

62. An apparatus for wireless communication at a second multi-link device (MLD), comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; as well as Instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the device to: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including the second MLD and one or more first MLDs, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; transmitting the control communication with the one or more first MLDs over the first radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and The data communications are communicated with the one or more first MLDs over the second radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

63. The device according to claim 62, wherein The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: One or more communication parameters are sent to the one or more first MLDs via the first radio frequency link for establishing the communication according to the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network, the one or more communication parameters comprising a traffic indication or a communication update, or both.

64. An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; as well as Instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the device to: receiving, in accordance with multi-link operation for a wireless local area network, an indication of at least a portion of a beacon interval timeline for communication between a second MLD and the first MLD on a first radio frequency link, wherein the beacon interval timeline comprises at least one of: a beacon transmission interval, and one or more service time periods via which channel access between the first MLD and the second MLD via a second radio frequency link is via the one or more service time periods, wherein the service time periods are scheduled for communication with at least one of the first MLDs on the second radio frequency link; Communicating with the second MLD is performed according to at least one of: the beacon transmission interval and the one or more service time periods.

65. An apparatus for wireless communication at a first multi-link device (MLD), comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; as well as Instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the device to: establishing communications according to a multi-link operation for a wireless local area network including a second MLD and the first MLD, wherein the multi-link operation includes a second radio frequency link for data communications and a first radio frequency link for control communications; communicating the control communication with the second MLD over the first radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network; and The data communication is communicated with the second MLD over the second radio frequency link in accordance with the multi-link operation for the wireless local area network.

Images