Systems and methods for range extension in wireless devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for range extension in a wireless device. The present solution may include devices, systems, and methods for facilitating wireless communication of a narrowband device within a communication range of a broadband access point. An access point (AP) may be configured to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble and to communicate with a first one or more devices via a narrowband channel. The AP may establish a service cycle (SP) with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via a broadband channel. The AP may receive, during the SP, one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without the broadband preamble. The AP may forward data from the one or more protocol data units to a second one or more device during the SP via the one or more narrowband channels.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related patent applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit and priority of Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202321060868 filed on September 11, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Generally speaking, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating wireless network communications between devices, including but not limited to improving the scope of wireless communication devices. Background Art

[0004] Wireless communication devices can be used for various types of data transmission in a variety of networks. Wireless communication can operate according to various standards, such as IEEE 802.11x (e.g., Wi-Fi technology), Bluetooth, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), or Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT). Using these technologies, wireless communication devices can connect to local area networks and the Internet without physical cables, communicating via radio frequencies and across various spaces and ranges. However, implementing or coordinating communications between different types of wireless devices can be challenging. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical solutions disclosed herein facilitate increased range and reduced interference for low-power narrowband wireless communication devices (e.g., IoT devices) to communicate within the range of broadband access point (AP) devices (e.g., IEEE 802.11 Wireless Fidelity or Wi-Fi devices). These technical solutions can provide reliable and extended range for narrowband low transmission power IoT wireless communication devices while avoiding communication conflicts with broadband traditional AP devices and their corresponding stations and increasing compatibility. The technical solutions can utilize features of the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard, such as using a restricted target wake-up time service period (rTWT SP) to schedule communication intervals (e.g., silent periods) to listen for transmissions, using a self-clearing to send (CTS2SELF) feature to reduce conflicts, and using trigger frames to initiate specific actions between devices. The technical solutions allow the use of edge bandwidth outside of standard 802.11 channels to facilitate reliable narrowband IoT communications. Range extension can be provided using mesh / repeaters or client relay technologies, where devices (e.g., client stations or APs) can facilitate forwarding messages between different range-limited devices. The solutions can use IEEE P802.11be TM / D3.1 standard, which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0006] Some aspects of the technical solution described herein relate to a system. The system may include an access point (AP) configured to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble on one or more broadband channels and to communicate with a first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels. The AP may be configured to establish a service period (SP) with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels. The AP may be configured to receive one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP without the broadband preamble. The AP may be configured to forward data from the one or more protocol data units to a second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP.

[0007] The system may include the AP, the AP further configured to establish the SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations. The AP may be configured to transmit a clear-to-send (CTS2SELF) frame to at least one of the one or more stations before the SP begins. The CTS2SELF frame may be configured to cause the at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

[0008] The AP may be configured to transmit a trigger frame to at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels before the SP starts, the trigger frame being configured to indicate that the first one or more devices or the at least one of the second one or more devices is ready to at least one of transmit or receive the one or more protocol data units.

[0009] The AP and the one or more stations may communicate via the one or more wideband channels before and after the SP. The first one or more devices may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The one or more narrowband channels may include a bandwidth of up to 1 MHz. The one or more protocol data units may include a narrowband preamble. The narrowband preamble may be a self-decodable narrowband preamble. The AP may be further configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices during the SP.

[0010] Some aspects of the technical solution described herein relate to a method. The method may include configuring, by one or more processors of an access point (AP), the AP to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble on one or more broadband channels and to communicate with a first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels. The method may include establishing, by the one or more processors, a service period (SP) with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels. The method may include receiving, by the one or more processors during the SP, one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without the broadband preamble. The method may include forwarding, by the one or more processors during the SP, data from the one or more protocol data units to a second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels.

[0011] The method may include configuring, by the one or more processors, the AP to establish a SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations. The method may include transmitting, by the one or more processors, a clear-to-send (CTS2SELF) frame to at least one of the one or more stations prior to the start of the SP, the CTS2SELF frame being configured to cause the at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

[0012] The method may include transmitting, by the one or more processors, a trigger frame to at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels before the SP starts. The trigger frame may be configured to indicate that the at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices is ready for at least one of transmission or reception of the one or more protocol data units.

[0013] The AP and the one or more stations may communicate via the one or more wideband channels before and after the SP. The first one or more devices may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The one or more narrowband channels may include a bandwidth of up to 1 MHz. The one or more protocol data units may include a narrowband preamble. The narrowband preamble may be a self-decodable narrowband preamble. The AP may be further configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices during the SP.

[0014] Some aspects of the technical solution described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor to establish a service period (SP) with one or more stations for an access point (AP) configured to communicate with the one or more stations using a broadband preamble on one or more broadband channels and to communicate with a first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor to receive one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP without the broadband preamble. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor to forward data from the one or more protocol data units to a second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The various objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly and better understood by reference to the detailed description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the present disclosure, similar reference characters identify corresponding elements. In the drawings, similar element symbols generally indicate identical, functionally similar and / or structurally similar elements.

[0016] Figure 1A is a block diagram depicting a network environment including one or more access points in communication with one or more devices or stations according to some embodiments.

[0017] Figure 1B and 1C is a block diagram depicting a computing device useful in conjunction with the methods and systems described herein, according to some embodiments.

[0018] Figure 2 An example system for extending the wireless communication range of a device is illustrated.

[0019] Figure 3 is an example flow chart of a method for facilitating wireless communication by a narrowband communication device within the communication range of a broadband conventional device (eg, a Wi-Fi access point).

[0020] The details of various embodiments of the present method and system are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following IEEE standards (including any draft versions of such standards) are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety and are made a part of this disclosure for all purposes: Wi-Fi Alliance standards and IEEE 802.11 standards, including but not limited to IEEE 802.11a TM 、IEEE 802.11b TM 、IEEE 802.11g TM 、IEEE P802.11n TM ;IEEEP802.11ac TM ; and IEEE P802.11be TM Draft version D3.0 standard. Although the present disclosure may refer to aspects of these standards, the present disclosure is in no way limited to these standards.

[0022] In order to read the description of the various embodiments below, the following description of the various sections of this specification and their corresponding contents may be helpful:

[0023] - Section A describes a network environment and a computing environment that can be used to practice the embodiments described herein; and

[0024] - Section B describes embodiments of range extension in a wireless device.

[0025] A. Computing environment and network environment

[0026] Before discussing specific embodiments of the present solution, it may be helpful to describe aspects of the operating environment and associated system components (eg, hardware elements) in conjunction with the methods and systems described herein. Figure 1A , depicting an embodiment of a network environment. In brief, the network environment includes a wireless communication system, which includes one or more access points (APs) or network devices 106, one or more stations or wireless communication devices 102, and network hardware components or network hardware 192. For example, the wireless communication device 102 may include a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal computer, and / or a cellular telephone device. Reference Figure 1B and 1C The details of the embodiments of each station or wireless communication device 102 and AP or network device 106 are described in more detail. In various embodiments, the network environment can be or include a specific network environment, an infrastructure wireless network environment, a sub-network environment, or a managed network infrastructure combining different technologies, such as various broadband wireless local area network (WLAN) devices (e.g., Wireless Fidelity or Wi-Fi) or low power wide area network (LPWAN) narrowband devices (e.g., Internet of Things or IoT devices).

[0027] An access point (AP) 106 (also referred to as a network device 106) may be operatively coupled to the network hardware 192 via a local area network connection. In some embodiments, the network device 106 is a 5G base station. The network hardware 192 may include routers, gateways, switches, bridges, modems, system controllers, equipment, etc., which may provide a local area network connection for a communication system. Each of the network devices 106 or APs may have an associated antenna or antenna array for communicating with wireless communication devices in its area. The wireless communication device 102 may register with a particular network device 106 or AP to receive services from the communication system (e.g., via SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration). For direct connections (e.g., point-to-point communications), some wireless communication devices may communicate directly via assigned channels and communication protocols. Some of the wireless communication devices 102 may be mobile or relatively static relative to the network device 106 or AP.

[0028] In some embodiments, the network device 106 or AP includes a device or module (including a combination of hardware and software) that allows the wireless communication device 102 to connect to a wired network using wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) or other standards. The network device 106 or AP may sometimes be referred to as a wireless access point (WAP). The network device 106 or AP may be implemented (e.g., configured, designed and / or constructed) to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In some embodiments, the network device 106 or AP may be connected to a router (e.g., via a wired network) as a standalone device. In other embodiments, the network device 106 or AP may be a component of a router. The network device 106 or AP may provide access to a network to multiple devices. For example, the network device 106 or AP may be connected to a wired Ethernet connection and use a radio frequency link to provide a wireless connection for other devices 102 to utilize the wired connection. The network device 106 or AP may be implemented to support standards for sending and receiving data using one or more radio frequencies. Those standards and the frequencies they use may be defined by IEEE (e.g., IEEE 802.11 standards). The network device 106 or AP may be configured and / or used to support public Internet hotspots and / or extend the Wi-Fi signal range of the network over the network.

[0029] In some embodiments, the access point or network device 106 may be used for or with an indoor, in-vehicle, or in-building wireless network (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee) or any other type of radio frequency-based network protocol and / or variations thereof. Each of the wireless communication devices 102 may include a built-in radio and / or be coupled to a radio. Such wireless communication devices 102 and / or access points or network devices 106 may operate in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure as presented herein to enhance performance, reduce cost and / or reduce size, and / or enhance broadband applications. Each wireless communication device 102 may have the ability to act as a client node that seeks access to resources (e.g., data and connections to networked nodes (e.g., servers)) via one or more access points or network devices 106.

[0030] The network connection may include any type and / or form of network and may include any of the following: a point-to-point network, a broadcast network, a telecommunications network, a data communications network, a computer network. The topology of the network may be a bus, a star, or a ring network topology. The network may be any such network topology as known to those skilled in the art that is capable of supporting the operations described herein. In some embodiments, different types of data may be transmitted via different protocols. In other embodiments, the same type of data may be transmitted via different protocols.

[0031] The wireless communication device 102 and the access point or network device 106 may be deployed as and / or executed on any type and form of computing device, such as a computer, a network device, a smart phone, or an apparatus capable of communicating over any type and form of network and performing the operations described herein. Figure 1B and 1C A block diagram of a computing device 100 is depicted for practicing an embodiment of a station 102 (eg, a wireless communication device) or an AP 106 (eg, a network device). Figure 1B and 1C As shown in FIG. 1 , each computing device 100 includes a processor 121 (eg, a central processing unit or CPU) and a main memory unit 122. Figure 1B As shown in , computing device 100 may include storage device 128, installation device 116, network interface 118, I / O controller 123, display devices 124a to 124n, keyboard 126, and pointing device 127 (e.g., mouse). Storage device 128 may include an operating system and / or software. Figure 1CAs shown in , each computing device 100 may also include additional optional elements that communicate with the central processing unit or processor 121, such as a memory interface 103, a bridge 170, one or more input / output devices 130a to 130n, and a cache memory 140.

[0032] The central processing unit or processor 121 is any logic circuitry that responds to and processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 122. In many embodiments, the central processing unit or processor 121 is provided by a microprocessor unit such as: a microprocessor unit manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California; a microprocessor unit manufactured by International Business Machines Corporation of White Plains, New York; or a microprocessor unit manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, California. The computing device 100 may be based on any of these processors or any other processor capable of operating as described herein.

[0033] The main memory unit 122 may be one or more memory chips capable of storing data and allowing any storage location to be directly accessed by the microprocessor or processor 121, such as any type or variation of static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, and solid-state drive (SSD). The main memory unit 122 may be based on any of the memory chips described above or any other available memory chip capable of operating as described herein. Figure 1B In the embodiment shown in , processor 121 communicates with main memory unit 122 via system bus 150 (described in detail below). Figure 1C An embodiment of a computing device 100 is depicted in which the processor communicates directly with the main memory unit 122 via the memory interface 103. For example, in Figure 1C In the embodiment, the main memory unit 122 may be a DRDRAM.

[0034] Figure 1C An embodiment is depicted in which the main processor 121 communicates directly with the cache memory 140 via a secondary bus (sometimes referred to as a backside bus). In other embodiments, the main processor 121 communicates with the cache memory 140 using the system bus 150. Typically, the cache memory 140 has a faster response time than the main memory unit 122 and is provided by, for example, SRAM, BSRAM, or EDRAM. Figure 1C, the processor 121 communicates with various I / O devices 130 via a local system bus 150. For example, various buses such as a VESA VL bus, an ISA bus, an EISA bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a PCI bus, a PCI-X bus, a PCI-Express bus, or a NuBus may be used to connect the central processing unit or processor 121 to any of the I / O devices 130. For embodiments in which the I / O device is a video display 124, the processor 121 may communicate with the display 124 using an Advanced Graphics Program (AGP). Figure 1C An embodiment of a computer or computer system 100 is depicted in which the main processor 121 can communicate directly with the I / O device 130b, such as via HYPERTRANSPORT, RAPIDIO, or INFINIBAND communication technology. Figure 1C Also depicted is an embodiment in which local buses and direct communications are mixed: processor 121 communicates with I / O device 130a using a local interconnect bus while communicating directly with I / O device 130b.

[0035] There may be a variety of I / O devices 130a to 130n in the computing device 100. Input devices include keyboards, mice, track pads, track balls, microphones, dials, touch pads, touch screens, and drawing tablets. Output devices include video displays, speakers, inkjet printers, laser printers, projectors, and pigment sublimation printers. I / O devices may be provided by, for example, Figure 1B 100. The I / O controller may control one or more I / O devices, such as a keyboard 126 and a pointing device 127 (e.g., a mouse or optical pen). In addition, the I / O devices may also provide storage and / or installation media for the computing device 100. In other embodiments, the computing device 100 may provide a USB connection (not shown) to receive a handheld USB storage device, such as the USB flash drive series of devices manufactured by Twintech Industry, Inc. of Los Alamitos, California.

[0036] Reference again Figure 1B, the computing device 100 may support any suitable installation device 116, such as a disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a CD-R / RW drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a flash memory drive, a tape drive in various formats, a USB device, a hard disk, a network interface, or any other device suitable for installing software and programs. The computing device 100 may further include a storage device, such as one or more hard disk drives or a redundant array of independent disks, for storing an operating system and other related software and for storing application software programs, such as any program or software 120 for implementing (e.g., configured and / or designed for) the systems and methods described herein. Optionally, any of the installation devices 116 may also be used as a storage device. In addition, the operating system and software may be run from a bootable media.

[0037] In addition, the computing device 100 may include a network interface 118 that interfaces to a network through various connections, including but not limited to a standard telephone line, a LAN or WAN link (e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, 56kb, X.25, SNA, DECNET), a broadband connection (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, Gigabit, Ethernet, Ethernet over SONET), a wireless connection, or some combination of any or all of the above. The connection may be established using various communication protocols (e.g., TCP / IP, IPX, SPX, NetBIOS, Ethernet, ARCNET, SONET, SDH, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), RS232, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ad, CDMA, GSM, WiMax, and direct asynchronous connection). In one embodiment, the computing device 100 communicates with other computing devices 100' via any type and / or form of gateway or tunneling protocol, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS). The network interface 118 may include a built-in network adapter, a network interface card, a PCMCIA network card, a card bus network adapter, a wireless network adapter, a USB network adapter, a modem, or any other device suitable for interfacing the computing device 100 to any type of network that has communication capabilities and performs the operations described herein.

[0038] In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may include or be connected to one or more display devices 124a to 124n. Thus, any one of the I / O devices 130a to 130n and / or the I / O controller 123 may include any type and / or form of suitable hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software to support, enable or provide the computing device 100 with connection and use of the display devices 124a to 124n. For example, the computing device 100 may include any type and / or form of video adapters, video cards, drivers and / or libraries for interfacing, communicating, connecting or otherwise using the display devices 124a to 124n. In one embodiment, the video adapter may include multiple connectors for interfacing to the display devices 124a to 124n. In other embodiments, the computing device 100 may include multiple video adapters, each of which is connected to the display devices 124a to 124n. In some embodiments, any part of the operating system of the computing device 100 may be configured to use multiple display devices 124a to 124n. In other embodiments, the I / O device 130 can be a bridge between the system bus 150 and an external communication bus, for example, the external communication bus is a USB bus, an Apple desktop bus, an RS-232 serial connection, a SCSI bus, a FireWire bus, a FireWire 800 bus, an Ethernet bus, an AppleTalk bus, a Gigabit Ethernet bus, an asynchronous transfer mode bus, a Fibre Channel bus, a fiber optic bus, a serial attached small computer system interface bus, a USB connection, or an HDMI bus.

[0039] Figure 1B and 1CA computing device 100 of the type depicted in the figure may operate under the control of an operating system that controls the scheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device 100 may run any operating system, such as any of the following: versions of the Microsoft WINDOWS operating system, different versions of the Unix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS for Macintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-time operating system, any open source operating system, any proprietary operating system, any operating system for a mobile computing device, or any other operating system capable of running on a computing device and performing the operations described herein. Typical operating systems include, but are not limited to, Android produced by Google, WINDOWS 7, 8, and 10 produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, MAC OS produced by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California, WebOS produced by Research in Motion (RIM), OS / 2 produced by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) of Armonk, New York, and a freely available Linux operating system or any type and / or form of Unix operating system released by Caldera Corporation of Salt Lake City, Utah, etc.

[0040] The computer system or computing device 100 may be any workstation, phone, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, handheld computer, mobile phone or other portable telecommunication device, media playback device, gaming system, mobile computing device, or any other type and / or form of computing device, telecommunication device, or media device with communication capabilities. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may have a different processor, operating system, and input device consistent with the device. For example, in one embodiment, the computing device 100 is a smart phone, mobile device, tablet computer, or personal digital assistant. In addition, the computing device 100 may be any workstation, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, handheld computer, mobile phone, any other computer or other form of computing device or telecommunication device with communication capabilities and sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the operations described herein.

[0041] Aspects of the operating environment and components described above will be apparent in the context of the systems and methods disclosed herein.

[0042] B. Range Extension in Wireless Devices

[0043] The technical solutions of the present disclosure may include systems and methods for facilitating wireless communication of low-power narrowband IoT devices within the communication range of broadband devices (e.g., Wi-Fi access points and stations). The technical solutions may utilize coordination mechanisms with Wi-Fi access points to facilitate narrowband IoT wireless communications with increased range and reduced interference. These technical solutions may extend the range for narrowband low transmission power IoT wireless communication devices while reducing communication conflicts, thereby enhancing the compatibility between IoT narrowband and traditional broadband AP 106 devices and their corresponding stations 102. The technical solutions may utilize features of the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard (e.g., rTWTSP) for scheduling communication intervals (e.g., silent periods) to listen for transmissions, self-clearing transmission (CTS2SELF) features for reducing conflicts, and trigger frames for initiating specific actions between devices. The solutions may also facilitate the use of edge bandwidth outside of standard 802.11 channels to facilitate reliable narrowband IoT communications. Range extension may be achieved using mesh / repeaters or client relay technology, where devices (e.g., client stations 102 or AP 106) may facilitate forwarding messages between different range-limited devices. This solution can be incorporated into IEEE P802.11be TM / Various features of the D3.1 standard.

[0044] An aspect of the present technical solution may include systems and methods that facilitate improving the range of wireless signals or communications using IEEE 802.11 (e.g., Wi-Fi) technology. The present technical solution may extend the range for narrowband wireless communication devices (e.g., IoT or other types of devices) operating at low transmission power levels. The present technical solution may utilize the AP 106 to pause or stop broadband communications of the station 102 for a time period (e.g., a service period) to facilitate uninterrupted narrowband transmissions during the period. For example, the present solution may extend the communication range by providing or facilitating transmission or forwarding of narrowband transmissions as a sub-preamble bandwidth range or by utilizing a mesh (e.g., a mesh topology) and repeaters to extend the range.

[0045] Broadband transmission may include any data transmission over a wide frequency range, such as data transmission used by a Wi-Fi access point 106 and its corresponding station 102. Broadband transmission by an AP 106 or station 102 may facilitate higher data transfer rates than narrowband transmission. For example, depending on the technology and implementation, a device that uses a bandwidth greater than 5 MHz (e.g., 20 MHz) for wireless communication may be referred to as a broadband device. Similarly, depending on the technology and implementation, narrowband transmission may include any data transmission occurring within a bandwidth less than 5 MHz (e.g., 1 MHz or less), characterized by a lower data transfer rate used by a low-power device. Due to the lower data rate and higher power spectral density, narrowband communications may be used in applications where a larger extended range and power efficiency are preferred, such as in IoT devices operating in sub-1 MHz bands. The specific frequency ranges used for broadband and narrowband transmissions may vary based on the implementation within the wireless communication system.

[0046] Some wireless technologies may provide greater range than 802.11 technology for specific use cases. This range limitation in 802.11 technology may be caused by its 20 MHz preamble. For example, in Wi-Fi communications, the initial portion of a data frame or data packet may be transmitted using a 20 MHz bandwidth to establish a connection between devices and synchronize the devices before actual data transmission, which may limit the effective wireless communication range.

[0047] To overcome these challenges, the present technology solution can take advantage of narrowband operation to increase signal and transmission range. For example, a 1MHz transmission can achieve 13dB higher range than a 20MHz transmission. Therefore, sub-1MHz narrowband transmission can provide higher power spectral density (PSD) relative to the PSD of wideband transmission. This can help reduce power consumption while also extending range, making IoT devices more cost-effective and efficient. IoT devices can exchange data infrequently at low rates, making narrowband transmission suitable for their use cases.

[0048] Integrating support for narrowband transmissions can be challenging, especially when providing detection of narrowband transmissions by legacy devices. The present technical solution may overcome such challenges using, for example, rTWT SPs to form silent periods during which IoT devices may exchange communications within communication range without conflict or interference from legacy broadband devices (e.g., AP 106 or station 106). The present technical solution may further utilize CTS2SELF and trigger frames, which may be transmitted before the start of silent periods to prevent other legacy devices from transmitting during these periods, thereby facilitating and improving the efficiency and speed of wireless communications.

[0049] The present technical solution can provide a 20MHz preamble that is added to a narrowband downlink (DL) or uplink (UL) transmission corresponding to an IoT device, enabling concurrent transmission with other devices using a conventional wideband preamble. The present technical solution can also utilize edge bandwidth outside of current 802.11 channels for narrowband switching, thereby utilizing available bandwidth that is not applicable to conventional 802.11 transmissions.

[0050] The present solution can provide range extension through mesh / repeater or client relay technology, which can benefit IoT devices and emergency situations. For example, mesh / repeater devices can forward messages between access points and range-limited devices (in DL or UL) based on the nature of range limitations. Client relay can involve several clients connected to the same access point, thereby extending the range for devices that are not in coverage. These relay technologies can utilize machine learning (ML) capabilities for efficient communication and can be compatible with IEEE P802.11be TM / D3.1 standard alignment.

[0051] Reference now Figure 2 , which is an example of a system 200 for facilitating low-power narrowband wireless communications within the coverage of a broadband AP 106 or station 102 device. For example, the system 200 can extend the range of IoT low-power narrowband wireless communications via an AP 106 device (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi device). The exemplary system 200 can include one or more access points (APs) 106 that communicate with one or more stations 102 via one or more links 204. The AP 106 and the station 102 can also communicate with or facilitate communication between one or more IoT devices 230 via one or more links 204. For example, the AP 106A can communicate with the IoT device 230A, the IoT device 230B, the station 102A, the station 102B, the AP 106B, and the station 102C via the link 204. AP 106A may communicate with IoT device 230C via station 102C and link 204 corresponding to 102C, via AP 106B and link 204 corresponding to AP 106B, or station 102A and link 204 corresponding to station 102A. IoT devices 230 (e.g., IoT devices 230A and 230B) may communicate directly with each other via their own dedicated links 204.

[0052] The AP 106 (e.g., APs 106A-106B) may include one or more communication controllers 206, a wideband preamble 208, a channel configuration 210, a service period (SP) 212, an operating parameter 214, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) function 216, and a range function 218. The station 102 (e.g., stations 102A-102C) may include one or more communication controllers 206, a wideband configuration 220, and a range function 218. The Internet of Things (IoT) device 230 (e.g., 230A-230C) may include a communication controller 206, a narrowband configuration 232, a protocol data unit (PDU) 234, and a narrowband preamble 236.

[0053] The system 200 may include an AP 106 that uses a communication controller 206 and a channel configuration 210 to facilitate broadband wireless communication with a station 102 according to a broadband preamble 208. The AP 106 may utilize an operating parameter 214 (e.g., an rTWT SP, a trigger frame, or a CTS2SELF transmission) to establish an SP 212 during which a narrowband IoT device 230 may send or receive a PDU 234 via narrowband communication implemented by the communication controller 206 of the IoT device 230, via narrowband communication using a narrowband configuration 232 and a narrowband preamble 236. The AP 106 may utilize an OFDMA function 216 to facilitate multiple narrowband communications via a single (e.g., broadband) range. The AP 106 and the station 102A may utilize a range function 218 (e.g., a mesh, repeater, or relay functionality) to forward narrowband IoT communications, thereby extending the range of the IoT device 230.

[0054] Although system 200 illustrates an IoT device 230 as an example of a narrowband communication device, it should be understood that other narrowband wireless communication devices may alternatively be included and used, such as: two-way radio devices (e.g., walkie-talkies and handheld radios), radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, medical implantable devices (e.g., pacemakers or medical sensors, including implantable medical sensors), remote control system devices (e.g., consumer electronics, toys, and industrial equipment), telemetry systems (e.g., environmental monitoring sensors), utility metering devices (e.g., smart meters for measuring electricity, gas, or water consumption), or any other device that utilizes narrowband wireless communication.

[0055] Although system 200 illustrates AP 106 and station 102 as examples of broadband communication devices, it should be understood that other broadband wireless communication devices may alternatively be included and used, such as: smartphones and mobile devices (e.g., utilizing 4G LTE or 5G communication technology), laptops and computers (e.g., utilizing Wi-Fi adapters for broadband communication), smart televisions (e.g., utilizing built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections for broadband communication, such as content streaming), game consoles (e.g., featuring Wi-Fi connectivity), wireless printers or cameras, or some wireless audio devices (e.g., wireless speakers or headphones).

[0056] The communication controller 206 may include any combination of hardware and software on the AP 106 for controlling wireless communications. The communication controller 206 may include functionality (e.g., any combination of computer code, instructions, or circuit systems) for controlling broadband communications between stations 102 or narrowband communications between IoT devices 230, as well as any communications involving the AP 106. The communication controller 206 may facilitate the implementation of various solutions for facilitating both narrowband and broadband communications within the wireless range of the AP 106, as well as any functionality for optimizing and protecting narrowband IoT transmissions. For example, the communication controller 206 may use IEEE 802.11 wireless parameters or features (e.g., restricted target wake-up time service period (rTWT SP)) to schedule specific communication intervals for efficient resource usage. The communication controller 206 may use the self-clearing to send (CTS2SELF) feature to minimize conflicts during transmission, thereby enhancing the reliability of narrowband communications. The communication controller 206 may implement trigger frames to initiate specific actions between devices and effectively coordinate communication intervals. By utilizing these parameters or characteristics, the communication controller 206 can facilitate an organized and interference-resistant communication environment for the two stations 102 connected through the AP 106 and the IoT device 230.

[0057] The broadband preamble 208 may include any code, instruction, or bit sequence used to facilitate reliable and coordinated communication of broadband wireless communication devices (e.g., AP 106 and stations 102) at the beginning of communication. The broadband preamble 208 may include a standardized bit sequence used by the AP 106 or its communication controller 206 at the beginning of one or more communication frames. The broadband preamble 208 may include codes for facilitating synchronization and timing for efficient transmission or frame exchange (e.g., transmission or reception). In the context of traditional communications (e.g., Wi-Fi communications of stations 102), the broadband preamble 208 may facilitate synchronization of the AP 106 with associated stations 102, thereby allowing efficient data exchange within a network (e.g., WLAN). In some implementations, the wideband preamble 208 may be used to facilitate communication of the IoT device 230, for example, when the AP 106 or its communication controller 206 transmits the wideband preamble 208 to provide a synchronization mechanism (e.g., synchronize) for both wideband and narrowband transmissions, so that the station 102 stops transmitting during the SP 212 and allows or signals the IoT device 230 to exchange narrowband communications during the same SP 212. The wideband preamble 208 may thus facilitate IoT devices 230 operating at lower power and narrower bandwidth to effectively coordinate their communications within the network, facilitating reliable and interference-resistant connections.

[0058] The channel configuration 210 may include any arrangement, setup, or configuration of different types of channels within a wireless network. The channel configuration 210 may include settings, arrangements, setups, or configurations for any broadband communication or narrowband channels (including standard 802.11 channels). The channel configuration 210 may include configurations for edge bandwidths that are not used for broadband communication of Wi-Fi devices. The AP 106 or its communication controller 206 may utilize one or more channel configuration policies to facilitate broadband and narrowband communications. For standard 802.11 (e.g., broadband) channels, the communication controller 206 may set the channel configuration 210 to organize communication intervals including SPs 212 (e.g., silent periods) to manage broadband and narrowband transmissions. The channel configuration 210 may include edge bandwidths outside of standard 802.11 channels to facilitate narrowband IoT communications, thereby providing low-power devices with frequency ranges that are not used by the station 102. This channel configuration promotes the harmonious coexistence of both broadband traditional activities and narrowband IoT communications, thereby optimizing the overall performance and reliability of the wireless network.

[0059] The service period (SP) 212 may include any time interval during which communication activity is scheduled within the wireless network. The SP 212 may include a silent period during which broadband communication between the stations 102 is stopped to facilitate the completion of narrowband communication between the IoT devices 230. For example, the SP 212 formed or facilitated using the target wake-up time parameter (e.g., rTWT SP) may include or provide a specified time interval or period during which the AP 106 may coordinate communication intervals (including silent periods) for effective broadband communication (e.g., stopping IoT narrowband transmission during the time period) or for narrowband transmission (e.g., stopping broadband station 102 transmission during the time period). The SP 212 can be used to establish an organized window for device activity and can promote efficient resource utilization and minimize potential communication conflicts. The SP 212 may include a time interval of any duration, for example, 100us, 200us, 500us, 1000us, or greater than 1000us. The SP 212 may be scheduled to occur periodically, for example, every second, half a second, 0.1 second, or less than 0.1 second. SP 212 may be scheduled to occur in response to an event, such as the transmission of one or more operating parameters 214 (eg, rTWT or trigger frame).

[0060] The operating parameters 214 may include any series of data, bits, instructions, settings, or commands for establishing the SP 212 and facilitating IoT narrowband communications without conflicting with broadband transmissions between one or more of the AP 106 and the stations 102. The operating parameters 214 may include settings and configurations that the AP 106 may use to establish the SP 212 to stop broadband communications and trigger or facilitate IoT narrowband communications. The operating parameters 214 may include mechanisms such as target wake time (TWT), clear-to-send (CTS2SELF), and trigger frames or any other features or parameters of the standard 801.11. For example, the operating parameters 214 may include a TWT to schedule the SP 212 to define specific time intervals for IoT device communications. For example, the operating parameters 214 may include a CTS2SELF to facilitate conflict reduction by allowing devices to reserve time for their own transmissions. For example, the operating parameters 214 may include a trigger frame used by the AP 106 to initiate specific actions between devices to facilitate coordinated communication intervals.

[0061] The OFDMA function 216 may include any combination of hardware and software for facilitating orthogonal frequency division multiple access functionality by the AP 106. The OFDMA function 216 may include and implement the allocation of different subcarriers to multiple users or devices simultaneously. For example, the OFDMA function 216 may allocate and configure one or more subchannels within a specific channel or frequency range. The OFDMA function 216 may configure multiple narrowband channels for multiple IoT devices 230 within edge channels, which may include frequency ranges that are within the Wi-Fi frequency operating range but are not utilized by the AP 106. For example, the OFDMA function 216 may utilize the channel configuration 210 to configure one or more narrowband channels within the wideband or edge channel of the AP 106 using one or more narrowband configurations 232 for the IoT devices 230 to communicate their narrowband communications. The OFDMA functionality may facilitate enhanced spectral efficiency and capacity by allowing the AP 106 to dynamically allocate resources to accommodate a wide variety of communication settings for various devices. This may allow the AP 106 to optimize the use of available frequency bands, facilitating efficient and coordinated communications between multiple narrowband IoT devices and broadband traditional devices within the network.

[0062] The range function 218 may include any combination of hardware and software for extending the range of the IoT devices 230, for example, by forwarding IoT narrowband transmissions between the IoT devices 230 out of range of each other. The range function 218 may be deployed on the AP 106 and the station 102 and may extend the coverage area of ​​the IoT devices 230. The range function 218 may implement or facilitate mesh or repeater technology, where a device (e.g., an AP 106 or a station 102) facilitates forwarding messages between range-limited devices for both uplink and downlink transmissions. The range function 218 may implement or facilitate client relay functionality, where a station 102 connected to the same AP 106 may help or facilitate coverage extension to devices that are not in range (e.g., other IoT devices 230 or stations 102). The range function 218 may configure a mesh network or mesh topology, where each node or device of the network may communicate directly with other nodes to form a decentralized and interconnected network structure. The range function 218 may configure a repeater device to receive and retransmit signals, thereby extending the range of signal transmissions. Range function 218 may utilize IEEE P802.11be TM / D3.1 standard function to facilitate signal coverage range extension of IoT device 230 or station 102 using AP 106 or station 102. In one example, range function 218 can be deployed on IoT device 230 as a client repeater or node on a mesh network to extend range using IoT devices.

[0063] Wideband configuration 220 may include any configuration or setting for wideband communication of station 102 via AP 106. Wideband configuration 220 may include configuration for wideband transmission (e.g., 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz channel width for use with the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, or any other band of Wi-Fi devices). Station 102 operating in a wideband configuration may operate in a standard 802.11 channel and in activities such as broadband access and traditional Wi-Fi communications. Wideband configuration 220 may configure wideband transmission for data exchange between a station and an AP, featuring utilization of a wider frequency range (e.g., 20 MHz or greater) to accommodate higher data rates.

[0064] The narrowband configuration 232 may include any configuration or setting for narrowband communication of the IoT device 230. The narrowband configuration 232 may include settings or configurations for narrowband transmissions, such as transmissions with a channel width of less than 5 MHz, 2 MHz, 1 MHz, 800 kHz, 500 kHz, 100 kHz, or less than 100 kHz. For example, the IoT device 230 may communicate at sub-1 MHz narrowband transmissions, allowing for increased range and power efficiency. The narrowband configuration 232 may be based on a specific communication protocol within a restricted target wake time service period (rTWT SP) defined by the AP 106 for the IoT device and may be used to facilitate coordinated narrowband exchanges. The IoT device 230 may utilize a self-decodable narrowband preamble to facilitate detection of legacy devices, transmitting and receiving narrowband control and data within a predefined interval. The narrowband configuration 232 may facilitate more efficient resource utilization and improved coexistence of narrowband IoT communications with wider bandwidth legacy devices within a wireless network.

[0065] The protocol data unit (PDU) 234 may include an information unit that may be specified in a communication protocol and exchanged between network entities for the purpose of transmitting data within the network. The PDU 234 may include a physical protocol data unit (PPDU). The PDU 234 may include data bits corresponding to information (e.g., control data or payload) that may be transmitted or received by an IoT device. The PDU 234 may represent a standardized frame that facilitates wireless communication. The PDU 234 may include or correspond to a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) PDU structure that may encapsulate data or information for transmission. The PDU 234 may include a preamble that may be used for synchronization, a header containing control and addressing details, and a payload that carries the actual data. In the case of narrowband IoT transmission, the PDU utilizes a self-decodable narrowband preamble configuration to facilitate compatibility and detection of legacy devices. The use of PDUs within a wireless network allows for organized and structured communication between IoT devices and other network entities.

[0066] The narrowband preamble 236 may include any data bits used to synchronize narrowband communications (e.g., communications between IoT devices 230). The narrowband preamble 236 may be used as a self-decodable bit sequence designed to synchronize and initiate transmissions within a wireless network. The narrowband preamble 236 may be customized for sub-1 MHz narrowband transmissions, providing a different signaling mechanism that allows IoT devices to communicate efficiently within a restricted target wake-up time service period (rTWT SP). For example, unlike the wideband preamble 208 used in conventional devices, the narrowband preamble 236 may be configured to be independently decodable by IoT devices 230 operating at lower power and narrower bandwidths.

[0067] The link 204 between the IoT device 230, the AP 106 and the station 102 may include any wireless connection or session. The link 204 may vary based on the nature of the communication (narrowband or broadband). In broadband communications, which generally involve higher data rates, the link 204 may facilitate data exchange across a wider frequency range. For example, the broadband link 204 may support the transmission of a larger amount of data at a faster rate than the narrowband link 204, thereby potentially improving the overall network capacity. In narrowband communications, the link 204 may be customized to operate within a narrower frequency band, thereby optimizing the extended range and power efficiency. The IoT device 230 may establish a link 204 with the AP 106 and the station 102 during a specific interval (for example, and vice versa), which is often defined by a protocol such as rTWT that can be used to establish SP212. The link 204 may be arranged to facilitate organized and interference-resistant communications within a wireless network, and adjusted or configured for the preferences of narrowband IoT devices.

[0068] The present technical solution may facilitate enhanced narrowband downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions by implementing specific mechanisms such as rTWT SPs for silent periods. For example, an access point (AP) may establish rTWT SPs and corresponding short, sparse silent periods. Each SP 212 (e.g., silent period) may last for approximately 100 microseconds (e.g., every 0.1 second, 0.5 second, or 1 second), during which the IoT device 230 may exchange narrowband control and data without interference from broadband signals. In addition, the present technical solution may use a new self-decodable narrowband preamble for IoT transmissions. In addition, the present technical solution may provide or facilitate protection for narrowband DL / UL transmissions by using CTS2SELF and trigger frames, wherein the AP 106 may define specific periods (e.g., SP 212) for IoT devices to exchange narrowband data, prompting other devices not to transmit during those intervals. For example, this method may not include the IoT device transmitting a broadband CTS, thereby simplifying the communication process and enhancing efficiency.

[0069] In one example, the device may include a PHY layer design where an 802.11 PHY with a narrower bandwidth may be designed with its own narrowband preamble or involve time repetition while keeping the bandwidth no less than 20 MHz so that the same transmission takes longer. Redesigning the PHY layer may include standardization and productization work. Time repetition may be wasteful if the transmission utilizes resources and is transmitted in a narrowband manner that could have been multiplexed with other narrowband transmissions. The present technical solution may address issues related to the lack of range of IEEE 802.11 technology compared to some other wireless technologies. The present technical solution may increase the effective signal range for devices constrained by transmission power (e.g., IoT device 230), but the present solution may be used for any other wireless technology. In one example, the proposed solution may be implemented by downclocking the 802.11 PHY and as an operating mode in the UHR, thereby increasing the range for devices constrained by transmission power (e.g., IoT devices).

[0070] The present solution can provide range extension through narrowband operation. Narrowband transmission can increase the signal or transmission range. For example, a 1MHz transmission can nominally have a range that is 13dB higher than a 20MHz transmission. In addition, since regulations may specify a PSD per 1MHz bandwidth, sub-1MHz narrowband transmission can provide power spectral density (PSD) improvements or advantages. For example, a sub-1MHz transmission can transmit at the same power as a 1MHz, thus achieving a higher PSD. Narrowband transmission / reception can make the IoT device 230 cheaper and use less power. The bandwidth capability for transmission / reception can be a determining factor in the power consumption of the device. It is expected that the IoT device 230 may exchange data infrequently and at a lower rate than a broadband device, so the low data rate of narrowband transmission may not cause problems for typical IoT use cases. However, one challenge in adding support for narrowband transmission and reception may be to facilitate detection of legacy devices, which should give way to the IoT device 230 during narrowband transmission.

[0071] For example, the present technical solution may provide protection of narrowband downlink (DL) / uplink (UL) transmissions through rTWT SP 212, during which specific actions or scheduled operations (e.g., listening for incoming transmissions) may be performed. For example, AP 106 may define rTWT SP 212, which may be very short (e.g., approximately 100 microseconds) and sparse (e.g., once per second). Within SP 212, AP 106 and IoT device 230 may exchange narrowband control and data. IoT device 230 may be outside the range of broadband preamble 208 and may omit decoding or transmission thereof. In these examples, PDU 234 (e.g., PPDU) received and transmitted by IoT device 230 may be narrowband and no broadband preamble 208 is required. A new self-decodable narrowband preamble 236 may be defined, transmitted, and used for these IoT narrowband transmissions according to the narrowband configuration 232 and across any range of narrowband channels configured by the channel configuration 210 for the IoT device 230 or the AP 106 .

[0072] For example, the present technical solution may provide protection for narrowband DL / UL transmissions through CTS2SELF and trigger frames. The AP 106 may define periods (e.g., SP 212) in which the AP 106 and the IoT device 230 may exchange narrowband control and data. Just before these periods (e.g., before the start of SP 212), the AP 106 may transmit CTS2SELF and / or trigger frames so that other devices (e.g., stations 102 communicating via the AP 106) do not transmit during the periods. Because the present solution may rely on the IoT device 230 to transmit a wideband CTS, a request to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) may not be used to silence other devices and then perform narrowband transmission / reception in a transmission opportunity (TXOP).

[0073] For example, the present technical solution may provide a 20 MHz wideband preamble 206 that may be pre-set to a narrowband DL or UL transmission of an IoT device 230. Within the rTWT SP 212 or even outside the SP 212, the AP 106 may transmit DL or schedule UL transmissions from the IoT device 230 in a narrowband orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) manner using an OFDMA function 216. In doing so, the present technical solution may utilize OFDMA to simultaneously transmit or schedule transmissions from other devices (e.g., forming multiple narrowband sub-channels within a wideband or edge channel), where the devices still rely on a traditional wideband preamble. The IoT device 230 may have or use an independently decodable narrowband preamble 236. The wideband preamble 208 may be transmitted by the AP 106 on the DL or by a traditional OFDMA participant on the UL, resulting in improved utilization of resources.

[0074] For example, the present technical solution may use edge bandwidth outside of current 802.11 channels for narrowband exchange. In an implementation, there may be bandwidth available at the edge of various frequency bands (e.g., frequency bands or channels) that are not available for traditional 802.11 because such edge channels or frequency bands may be less than or narrower than 20 MHz or because traditional 802.11 that utilizes 20 MHz+ bandwidth transmission may not be an out-of-band transmission specification. The bandwidth of such channels may be used for narrowband exchange with IoT device 230.

[0075] The present technical solution may provide range extension through mesh / repeater or client relay. For example, the present technical solution may utilize range function 218 at station 102 or AP 106 (including for IoT device 230) to extend the range. For example, the present technical solution may use client relay and mesh / repeater configuration or implementation to extend the range between two IoT devices 230. The mesh or repeater configuration may be formed to facilitate extended coverage by forwarding messages from AP 106 to range-limited IoT device 230 or / and vice versa. Depending on the nature of the range limitation, the implementation of forwarding may be in both DL and UL or only in UL. The forwarding may be implemented using one or more APs 106 (e.g., forwarding narrowband transmissions between two IoT devices 230 via one or more APs 106), using one or more stations 102 (e.g., forwarding narrowband transmissions between two IoT devices 230 via one or more stations 102), or using any combination of one or more APs 106 and stations 102.

[0076] Since the transmission power for IoT device 230 is typically lower relative to the transmission power of AP 106 or station 102, in some embodiments, range extension may be implemented only on the UL. A distributed multi-link operation (MLO) architecture may be included in the system to help achieve this range extension. MLO may include features of Wi-Fi that facilitate a device (e.g., station 102) to simultaneously send and receive data across different frequency bands and channels (e.g., AP 106 device). For example, MLO may include functionality to provide and support multiple links between station 102 and AP 106, thereby increasing throughput, reducing latency, and improving reliability. MLO functionality may aggregate multiple frequency channels using different frequency bands simultaneously in applications such as virtual reality or augmented reality applications, online gaming, remote offices, and cloud computing. In some embodiments, MLO functionality and range extension may be combined with the narrowband solutions or features discussed herein so that the configured repeater (e.g., station 102 or AP 106) communicates using narrowband operation with IoT device 230 and using wideband operation with root AP 106.

[0077] In some embodiments, a client relay solution may be implemented using stations 102 connected to the same AP 106 to provide extended range for IoT devices 230 to IoT devices 230 that are not within range of each other. For example, machine learning (ML) capabilities may be used for stations 102 to implement the present solution such that an ML model may be trained to communicate with the AP 106 using one link 204 and to communicate with the IoT device 230 using another link 204. For example, a neural network model may be trained on multiple configurations of stations and access points and network nodes to determine paths through which range may be extended (e.g., IoT device narrowband signals will be forwarded to extend the range of the signal between IoT devices 230). Based on the ML model determining the path (e.g., the device to be used for range extension), CTS2SELF and trigger frames may be used for transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing. For example, the TXOP sharing feature may be triggered using standard 802.11be.

[0078] There may be various incentives for a station 102 to provide this relay service, such as the possibility of extending coverage using the services of another station 102 if this client is out of coverage at any other location. Another incentive may be an increased allocation rate, such as when transmitting and routing data corresponding to a device out of coverage, and IEEE P802.11be may also be used, for example. TM The characteristic transmission of / D3.1 corresponds to the DL / UL data of this relay client.

[0079] In some aspects, the system 200 may be used to facilitate narrowband communication of the device 230 within the communication range of broadband conventional devices (e.g., AP 106 and station 102). The system 200 may facilitate low-power narrowband wireless communication (e.g., transmission of IoT or other narrowband devices) within the communication range of broadband Wi-Fi devices (e.g., AP 106, station 102, or other broadband devices). The system 200 may facilitate improved wireless communication range of narrowband devices (e.g., IoT device 230 or other narrowband devices) and reduce communication interference with broadband devices. The system 200 may include a coordination mechanism to time narrowband communication and broadband communication so as to avoid transmission conflicts between the two, thereby improving their interoperability and compatibility. For example, the system 200 may utilize IEEE 802.11 wireless operation parameters or features (e.g., rTWT SP, CTS2SELF transmission, and trigger frames) to schedule communication intervals and reduce conflicts between broadband devices and narrowband devices. The system 200 may provide signal range extension for narrowband devices (eg, IoT device 230) using a mesh network, a repeater configuration, or client relay technology, thereby utilizing a broadband device to forward narrowband transmissions, thereby extending the range of the narrowband device.

[0080] The system 200 may include any combination of one or more APs 106, stations 102, and IoT devices 230. The system 200 may be configured to implement the configuration and functionality of the APs 106, stations 102, and narrowband devices (e.g., IoT devices 230 or any other narrowband devices) using instructions, computer codes, commands, and data stored in one or more main memories 122 or storage devices and executed on one or more main processors 121. For example, the system 200 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 122) storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor 121, cause the at least one processor to implement the functionality or actions of the system 200.

[0081] For example, the system 200 may include an AP 106 configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on one or more processors 121 from memory 122) to communicate with one or more stations 102 on one or more wideband channels (e.g., configured by a channel configuration 210 for the AP's wideband channels) using a wideband preamble 208. The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on one or more processors 121) to communicate with a first one or more of the narrowband devices (e.g., the IoT devices 230) using one or more narrowband channels (e.g., configured by a channel configuration 210 for the narrowband channels of the IoT devices 230).

[0082] The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors 121) to establish an SP 212 with the one or more stations 102. The SP 212 may be used or established so that the one or more stations 102 and the AP 106 suspend communication (e.g., broadband wireless transmission) via one or more broadband channels (e.g., channels having a channel width of 20 MHz or wider, such as channels used in Wi-Fi communications) during the duration of the SP 212. The SP 212 may include any duration, such as approximately 50 us, 100 us, 150 us, 200 us, 250 us, or a duration greater than 250 us. The SP 212 may be established periodically (e.g., every second, every 0.5, 0.25, or 0.1 seconds).

[0083] The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors 121) to receive one or more protocol data units 234 from a first one or more narrowband devices (e.g., IoT device 230 or other narrowband devices) via one or more narrowband channels during SP 212. The one or more PDUs 234 may be received without a wideband preamble 208, which may be used for wideband communication between the AP 106 and the station 102, such as Wi-Fi communication via Wi-Fi 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz channel widths.

[0084] The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors 121) to forward data from the one or more protocol data units 234 to a second one or more narrowband devices (e.g., IoT device 230 or other narrowband devices) via one or more narrowband channels during the SP 212. For example, the AP 106 may forward the received PDU 234 from the first one or more IoT devices 230 to the second one or more devices 230. The first IoT device and the second IoT device 230 may be out of communication range of each other, and the AP 106 may be positioned between the first IoT device and the second IoT device, thereby forwarding their communications during the SP 212, thereby effectively extending their wireless communication range (e.g., via the AP 106).

[0085] AP 106 may be configured (eg, via one or more instructions executed on one or more processors 121) to establish a SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations.

[0086] The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors 121) to transmit a clear-to-send (CTS2SELF) frame to at least one of the one or more stations before the SP begins, the CTS2SELF frame being configured to cause at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

[0087] The AP 106 may be configured (e.g., via one or more instructions executed on the one or more processors 121) to transmit an operating parameter 214 (e.g., a trigger frame) to at least one of the first one or more IoT devices 230 or the second one or more IoT devices 230 via one or more narrowband channels before the SP 212 starts. The trigger frame (e.g., 214) may be configured (e.g., including a signal or data) to indicate that at least one of the first one or more IoT devices 230 or the second one or more IoT devices 230 is ready to at least one of transmit or receive one or more protocol data units 234 (e.g., PPDUs transmitted via narrowband wireless communication between the IoT devices 230).

[0088] The AP 106 and the one or more stations 102 may communicate via one or more wideband channels (e.g., via the wideband channel configuration 210 and configured using the wideband preamble 208) before or after the SP 212. The first one or more devices may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The first one or more devices or the second one or more devices may include any device configured for narrowband transmission, including, for example, a two-way radio, an RFID device, a medical implantable device, a sensor device, a remote control system device, a telemetry device, a utility metering device, a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system or device, or any other system or device configured for narrowband transmission.

[0089] One or more narrowband channels may include a bandwidth or channel width of up to 1 MHz. One or more channels may include a bandwidth or channel width of up to 50 kHz, 100 kHz, 200 kHz, 500 kHz, 700 kHz, 900 kHz, 1 MHz, 1.5 MHz, 2 MHz, 3 MHz, 4 MHz, or 5 MHz. The narrowband channels may be configured using channel configuration 210 or narrowband configuration 232. The narrowband channel configuration may be configured for a variety of bandwidths depending on the frequency or power of the application.

[0090] One or more protocol data units may include a narrowband preamble 236. The narrowband preamble 236 may be a self-decodable narrowband preamble. A self-decodable narrowband preamble may be included in any preamble used in a wireless communication system that enables a receiver to decode the preamble without prior knowledge of the transmitted signal. This type of preamble may be designed to be simple and easy to decode by a low-power, low-cost device using low-power or short-range wireless communication. The self-decodable preamble 236 may be transmitted at a low data rate and used to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter. Once the receiver has synchronized with the transmitter, the receiver can begin decoding the data transmitted by the transmitter.

[0091] For example, the self-decodable narrowband preamble 236 may include a signaling sequence in wireless communications tailored for narrowband transmission (e.g., for low-power devices such as IoT devices 230). The narrowband preamble 236 may be structured to facilitate decoding by the receiver (even under challenging conditions or when signal strength is extremely low). For example, the narrowband preamble 236 may include a characteristic pattern or sequence that can be recognized by the receiving device, thereby facilitating decoding in low signal-to-noise ratio environments (e.g., by including a repetitive pattern in the preamble). The receiver may be equipped to independently decode this narrowband preamble 236 and may establish synchronization with the transmitted signal, thereby facilitating communication in a narrowband scenario without additional broadband signaling. The AP 106 may be configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices (e.g., narrowband devices, such as IoT devices 230) during the SP.

[0092] Figure 3 An example flow path of a method for facilitating wireless communications of a narrowband device within the communication range of a broadband conventional device (e.g., a Wi-Fi access point) is illustrated. The method 300 may include a flow chart for facilitating low power narrowband wireless communications (e.g., transmissions of IoT or other narrowband devices) within the communication range of a broadband Wi-Fi device. The method 300 may be performed by, for example, Figure 2 The system 200 illustrated in FIG. Figures 1A to 1C The method 300 may include actions 305 to 320. At 305, an access point (AP) may be configured for broadband and narrowband wireless communications. At 310, the AP may establish a service period (SP). At 315, the AP may receive data during the SP. At 320, the AP may forward data via the SP.

[0093] At 305, the method may include configuring an access point (AP) for broadband and narrowband wireless communications. The method may include one or more processors of the AP configuring the AP to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble on one or more broadband channels. The method may include one or more processors of the AP configuring the AP to communicate with a first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels. For example, the configuration may include establishing a channel configuration for narrowband and broadband communications. The configuration may include establishing a range function for extending or forwarding narrowband signals. The configuration may include establishing an OFDMA function for transmitting multiple narrowband communications via a dedicated broadband or edge channel. The configuration may include establishing broadband and narrowband preambles for coordinating wireless communications. Broadband communications may include communications at a channel width of at least 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz. Narrowband communications may include communications at a channel width of up to 500 kHz, 700 kHz, or 1 MHz.

[0094] The first one or more devices include one or more narrowband wireless communication devices. The first one or more devices may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a two-way radio, an RFID device, a medical implantable device, a remote control system, or a telemetry system or device. The one or more narrowband channels may include a bandwidth of up to 1 MHz. The AP may include a Wi-Fi device (e.g., a Wi-Fi router), a cellular access point, a Bluetooth access point, a ZigBee or Z-Wave access point, or a mesh network access point. The one or more stations may include a laptop, a smart phone, a tablet or computer, a game console, a smart TV, a wireless camera, or a mobile hotspot.

[0095] At 310, the AP may establish a service period (SP). The method may include one or more processors of the AP configuring a service period (SP) with one or more stations for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via one or more broadband channels. Configuring the SP may include the AP sending or broadcasting a message or transmission to stations coupled or connected to the AP to establish a silent period or a period during which broadband communications of the stations are suspended or stopped. The SP may include a period or duration, such as a duration of up to 50us, 100us, 150us, 200us, 500us, or 1ms. The SP may be configured or established to be periodic (e.g., occurring every 0.1s, 0.5s, or every second).

[0096] The method may include one or more processors configuring the AP to establish the SP using one or more operating parameters. For example, the method may include one or more processors configuring the AP to establish the SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations. The method may include the AP transmitting a clear to send message (e.g., a clear to send from self (CTS2SELF) frame) to at least one of the one or more stations before the SP starts. The CTS2SELF frame may be configured to cause at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

[0097] At 315, the AP may receive data via a narrowband channel during the SP. The method may include one or more processors of the AP receiving one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without a wideband preamble during the SP. For example, the AP may receive one or more PPDUs from one or more narrowband devices (e.g., IoT devices) during the SP. The one or more PPDUs may be transmitted by the one or more narrowband devices in response to the SP. For example, the one or more narrowband devices (e.g., IoT devices) may begin transmitting the one or more PPDUs in response to receiving a message or transmission indicating the start of the SP.

[0098] The method may include one or more processors of the AP transmitting a trigger frame to at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices via one or more narrowband channels before the SP starts. The trigger frame may be configured to indicate that at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices is ready for at least one of transmission or reception of one or more protocol data units.

[0099] At 320, the AP may forward data via the SP. The method may include one or more processors of the AP forwarding data from one or more protocol data units to a second one or more devices via one or more narrowband channels during the SP. For example, the AP may forward one or more PPDUs received from a first IoT device to a second IoT device. For example, the second IoT device may be outside the wireless communication range of the first IoT device or vice versa. The AP may be located or deployed between the first IoT device and the second IoT device and may be configured to operate as a repeater or range extender to forward narrowband communications between the first IoT device and the second IoT device.

[0100] The AP and one or more stations may communicate via one or more wideband channels before or after the SP. For example, the AP and one or more stations may communicate using a wideband preamble and transmit a wideband transmission. The wideband transmission may be paused during the SP and may be performed before or after the SP. One or more protocol data units (e.g., PPDUs communicated via narrowband transmissions) may include a narrowband preamble. The narrowband preamble may include a sequence of data (e.g., symbols or signals) transmitted at the beginning of a narrowband transmission, the data sequence being used to indicate a function in the communication process, such as synchronizing a receiver and a transmitter, frame separation (e.g., marking the beginning or acceptance of each data frame), channel characteristics (e.g., channel strength or potential distortion), carrier frequency offset, or signal gain control data. The narrowband preamble may include instructions. The narrowband preamble may be a self-decodable narrowband preamble that a receiving narrowband device may independently receive and decode to prepare to receive an incoming transmission. For example, a station or AP may be configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices during the SP, including any narrowband communications, such as narrowband communications for receiving and forwarding.

[0101] References to "or" may be interpreted as inclusive, such that any term described using "or" may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. References to at least one of a sequential list of items may be interpreted as an inclusive "or" to indicate any of a single described item, more than one described item, and all of the described items. For example, references to at least one of "A" and "B" may include only "A," only "B," and both "A" and "B." References used in conjunction with "includes" or other open-ended terms may include additional items.

[0102] It should be noted that certain paragraphs of the present disclosure may refer to a subset of devices or data in conjunction with terms such as "first" and "second" for the purpose of identifying or distinguishing one from another. These terms are not intended to relate entities (e.g., a first device and a second device) only in time or according to an order, although in some cases, these entities may include such a relationship. These terms also do not limit the number of possible entities (e.g., stations, APs, narrowband and / or IoT devices) that can operate within a system or environment.

[0103] It should be understood that the system described above may provide multiple components of any or each of these components, and these components may be provided on a stand-alone machine or, in some embodiments, on multiple machines in a distributed system. In addition, the position of the bit fields may be changed, and multi-bit words may be used. In addition, the system and method described above may be provided as one or more computer-readable programs or executable instructions embodied on or in one or more manufactured articles, such as, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, flash memory card, PROM, RAM, ROM, or tape. The program may be implemented in any programming language (e.g., LISP, PERL, C, C++, C#), or in any byte code language (e.g., JAVA). The software program or executable instructions may be stored as object code on or in one or more manufactured articles.

[0104] Although the foregoing written description of the methods and systems enables those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples presented herein. Therefore, the methods and systems should not be limited to the embodiments, methods, and examples described above, but to all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A system comprising: an access point AP configured to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble over one or more broadband channels and to communicate with the first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels; The AP is configured to: establishing a service period SP with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels; receiving one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without the wideband preamble during the SP; and Data from the one or more protocol data units are forwarded to a second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the AP is further configured to establish the SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the AP is further configured to: A clear-to-send (CTS2SELF) frame is transmitted to at least one of the one or more stations before the SP begins, the CTS2SELF frame being configured to cause at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the AP is further configured to: A trigger frame is transmitted to at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels before the SP starts, the trigger frame being configured to indicate that the first one or more devices or the at least one of the second one or more devices is ready to at least one of transmit or receive the one or more protocol data units.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the AP and the one or more stations are further configured to communicate via the one or more broadband channels before and after the SP.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first one or more devices comprise an Internet of Things (IoT) device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more narrowband channels comprise a bandwidth of up to 1 MHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more protocol data units include a narrowband preamble.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the narrowband preamble is a self-decodable narrowband preamble.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the AP is further configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices during the SP.

11. A method comprising: configuring, by one or more processors of an access point AP, the AP to communicate with one or more stations using a wideband preamble over one or more wideband channels and to communicate with the first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels; establishing, by the one or more processors, a service period SP with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels; receiving, by the one or more processors during the SP, one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without the wideband preamble; and Data from the one or more protocol data units are forwarded by the one or more processors via the one or more narrowband channels to a second one or more devices during the SP.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: The AP is configured, by the one or more processors, to establish the SP by communicating a target wake time (TWT) parameter corresponding to the SP to each of the one or more stations.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising: A clear-to-send (CTS2SELF) frame is transmitted by the one or more processors to at least one of the one or more stations prior to the start of the SP, the CTS2SELF frame being configured to cause at least the station to refrain from sending transmissions during the SP.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising: Before the SP starts, the one or more processors transmit a trigger frame to at least one of the first one or more devices or the second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels, and the trigger frame is configured to indicate that the first one or more devices or the at least one of the second one or more devices is ready to at least one of transmit or receive the one or more protocol data units.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the AP and the one or more stations communicate via the one or more broadband channels before and after the SP.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first one or more devices comprise Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more narrowband channels comprise a bandwidth of up to 1 MHz.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more protocol data units include a narrowband preamble, wherein the narrowband preamble is a self-decodable narrowband preamble.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the AP is further configured to exchange narrowband control information and data with the first one or more devices during the SP.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: establishing, for an access point AP configured to communicate with one or more stations using a broadband preamble on one or more broadband channels and to communicate with the first one or more devices using one or more narrowband channels, a service period SP with the one or more stations, for which the one or more stations and the AP suspend communication via the one or more broadband channels; receiving one or more protocol data units from the first one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels without the wideband preamble during the SP; and Data from the one or more protocol data units are forwarded to a second one or more devices via the one or more narrowband channels during the SP.

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