Device for context update regarding multi-link device

Abstract

A first access point (AP) of an AP multi-link device (MLD) is associated with a first communication link, and one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD are associated with one or more respective secondary communication links of the AP MLD. The first AP of the AP MLD generates a frame that includes a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field indicates a presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link, and each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields indicates a presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. The first AP of the AP MLD transmits the frame to a station (STA) of a STA MLD on the first communication link of the AP MLD.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application filed on April 8, 2021, with international application number PCT / US2021 / 026336 and Chinese national application date of April 8, 2021, with application number 202180026597.5, entitled "Context Update Method and Apparatus for Multi-Link Device".

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications

[0003] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 007,299, filed April 8, 2020, entitled “INDICATIONS OF CRITICAL UPDATES FOR MULTI-LINK DEVICES”; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 075,816, filed September 8, 2020, entitled “CONTEXT UPDATES FOR MULTI-LINK DEVICES”; and U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 17 / 224,979, filed April 7, 2021, entitled “CONTEXT UPDATES FOR MULTI-LINK DEVICES”, all of which are assigned to the assignee of this application. All disclosures of the prior applications are considered part of this patent application and are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0005] This disclosure generally relates to wireless communications, and more particularly to indications of critical updates relating to communication links associated with multi-link devices (MLDs).

[0006] Related technical descriptions

[0007] A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) can be formed by one or more Access Points (APs) that provide a shared wireless communication medium for use by several client devices (also known as stations (STAs)). The basic building block of a WLAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards is the Basic Service Set (BSS) managed by the AP. Each BSS is identified by a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) advertised by the AP. The AP periodically broadcasts beacon frames to enable any STA within the AP's wireless range to establish or maintain a communication link with the WLAN.

[0008] To improve data throughput, the AP can communicate with one or more STAs on multiple concurrent communication links. Each of these communication links can have various bandwidths, for example, by binding several 20MHz wide channels together to form a 40MHz wide channel, an 80MHz wide channel, or a 160MHz wide channel. The AP can establish a BSS on any of these different communication links, and therefore expects to improve communication between the AP and the one or more STAs on each of these communication links.

[0009] Overview

[0010] The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein each have several innovative aspects, and no single aspect is solely responsible for the desired properties disclosed herein.

[0011] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication. This method can be performed by a first AP of an Access Point (AP) MLD (Multi-Link Device). The first AP may be associated with a first communication link, and the AP MLD may include one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In some implementations, the method may include generating a frame that includes a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. The method may also include transmitting the frame on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame may be one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, or a Fast Initial Link Establishment (FILS) discovery frame.

[0012] In some implementations, the method may further include: receiving a notification from the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD regarding a critical update of the corresponding secondary AP. The method may also include: incrementing the value of a secondary change sequence field associated with the corresponding secondary AP based on the notification.

[0013] The first change sequence field may indicate the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the basic service set (BSS) associated with the first AP of the AP MLD; and each of the one or more sub-change sequence fields may indicate the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the BSS associated with the corresponding sub-AP of the AP MLD.

[0014] In some implementations, the one or more operational parameters include at least one of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0015] In some implementations, the frame may include a Multi-Link Element (MLE) carrying a first change sequence field. In some instances, the MLE may include or indicate one or more operational parameters for a first AP and its associated first communication link to the AP MLD. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying a partial or complete set of operational parameters for a Basic Service Set (BSS) associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In some instances, the one or more secondary change sequence fields are included in one or more corresponding Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) elements carried in the frame.

[0016] In some implementations, the method may further include receiving a probe request frame from a STA of a radio station (STA) MLD. The method may also include transmitting a response frame from a first AP of the AP MLD to the STA MLD over a first communication link. In some aspects, the response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters of one or more basic service sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD.

[0017] In some implementations, the method may further include receiving an indication of a critical update regarding a corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. The method may also include transmitting a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In some aspects, the response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters for one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD. In one implementation, the method may further include providing an indication for transmitting the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD before transmitting the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame. In some implementations, this indication is transmitted in a beacon frame on a first communication link.

[0018] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a wireless communication device. In some implementations, the wireless communication device may be an Access Point (AP) Multilink Device (MLD). The AP MLD may include at least one modem, at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one modem, and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. In some implementations, the memory may store computer-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, causes the AP MLD to perform operations including: generating a frame by a first AP of the AP MLD, the first AP being associated with a first communication link of the AP MLD. The AP MLD may also include one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD. The frame may include a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. The method may further include: transmitting the frame on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame can be one of a beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, or Fast Initial Link Establishment (FILS) discovery frame.

[0019] In some implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the AP MLD to further include the following operation: receiving a notification from the corresponding sub-AP of the AP MLD regarding a critical update of that sub-AP. Execution of the processor-readable code may also cause the AP MLD to further include the following operation: incrementing the value of the sub-change sequence field associated with the corresponding sub-AP based on the notification.

[0020] The first change sequence field may indicate the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the basic service set (BSS) associated with the first AP of the AP MLD; and each of the one or more sub-change sequence fields may indicate the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the BSS associated with the corresponding sub-AP of the AP MLD.

[0021] In some implementations, a critical update to a corresponding communication link corresponds to a change in one or more operating parameters of the BSS associated with that communication link. In some instances, one or more operating parameters include at least one of the following: CSA, Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, EDCA parameter, MU EDCA parameter, Quiet Time Element, DSSS parameter set, CF parameter set, OM, UORA parameter, TWT parameter, BSS color change, FILS parameter, SR parameter, HT operation, VHT operation, HE operation, or EHT operation.

[0022] In some implementations, the frame may include a Multi-Link Element (MLE) carrying a first change sequence field. In some instances, the MLE may include or indicate one or more operational parameters for a first AP and its associated first communication link to the AP MLD. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying a partial or complete set of operational parameters for a Basic Service Set (BSS) associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In some instances, the one or more secondary change sequence fields are included in one or more corresponding Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) elements carried in the frame.

[0023] In some implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the AP MLD to further perform the following operation: receiving a probe request frame from the STA MLD. Execution of the processor-readable code may also cause the AP MLD to further perform the following operation: transmitting a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD to the STA MLD on the first communication link. In some aspects, the response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters from one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD.

[0024] In some implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the AP MLD to further include the operation of receiving an indication of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. Execution of the processor-readable code may also cause the AP MLD to further include the operation of transmitting a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In some aspects, the response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters for one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD. In one implementation, the method may further include providing an indication for transmitting the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD before transmitting the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame. In some implementations, this indication is transmitted in a beacon frame on a first communication link.

[0025] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication. This method can be performed by a first STA of a Station MLD. The first STA may be associated with a first communication link of the STA MLD, and the STA MLD may include one or more secondary STAs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the STA MLD. In some implementations, the method may include associating with a first AP of an Access Point MLD. The method may include receiving a frame from the first AP on the first communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the frame may include a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In some implementations, the one or more secondary change sequence fields may be included in one or more corresponding RNR elements carried in the frame.

[0026] In other implementations, the first change sequence field may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operating parameters of a basic service set (BSS) associated with a first AP of the AP MLD; and the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operating parameters of a BSS associated with the one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD.

[0027] In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, or FILS discovery frame. In some instances, the frame may include an MLE carrying a first changed sequence field. In some instances, the MLE may include or indicate one or more operational parameters for the first AP and the associated first communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying a partial or complete set of operational parameters of the BSS associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD.

[0028] In some implementations, the method may further include storing values ​​carried in a first change sequence field and one or more sub-change sequence fields of the received frame in the STA MLD. In some instances, the storage includes incrementing the corresponding change sequence field value in response to a frame indicating a critical update associated with a communication link of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding change sequence field value stored in the STA MLD. In some other implementations, the method may further include incrementing the corresponding change sequence field value in response to a frame indicating a critical update associated with a communication link of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding change sequence field value stored in the STA MLD.

[0029] In some implementations, the method may further include: transmitting a probe request frame on the first communication link. The method may also include: receiving a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. The response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters from one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs.

[0030] In some implementations, one or more operation parameters include at least one of the following: CSA, Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, EDCA parameter, MU EDCA parameter, Quiet Time Element, DSSS parameter set, CF parameter set, OM, UORA parameter, TWT parameter, BSS color change, FILS parameter, SR parameter, HT operation, VHT operation, HE operation, or EHT operation.

[0031] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a wireless communication device. In some implementations, the wireless communication device may be a STA MLD. The STA MLD may include at least one modem, at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one modem, and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. In some implementations, the memory may store computer-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, causes the STA MLD to perform operations including associating with a first AP of the AP MLD. Execution of the processor-readable code may cause the STA MLD to further perform operations including receiving a frame from the first AP on the first communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the frame may include a first change sequence field and one or more sub-change sequence fields. The first change sequence field may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the one or more sub-change sequence fields may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links of the AP MLD. In some implementations, the one or more sub-change sequence fields may be included in one or more corresponding RNR elements carried in the frame.

[0032] In other implementations, the first change sequence field may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operating parameters of a basic service set (BSS) associated with a first AP of the AP MLD; and the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operating parameters of a BSS associated with the one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD.

[0033] In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, or FILS discovery frame. In some instances, the frame may include an MLE carrying a first changed sequence field. In some instances, the MLE may include or indicate one or more operational parameters for the first AP and the associated first communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying a partial or complete set of operational parameters of the BSS associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD.

[0034] In some implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the STA MLD to further include the operation of storing values ​​carried in a first change sequence field and one or more sub-change sequence fields of a received frame in the STA MLD. In some instances, this storage includes incrementing the corresponding change sequence field value in response to a frame indicating a critical update associated with a communication link of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding change sequence field value stored in the STA MLD. In some other implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the STA MLD to further include the operation of incrementing the corresponding change sequence field value in response to a frame indicating a critical update associated with a communication link of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding change sequence field value stored in the STA MLD.

[0035] In some implementations, execution of the processor-readable code may cause the STA MLD to further include the following operation: transmitting a probe request frame on the first communication link. Execution of the processor-readable code may also cause the STA MLD to further include the following operation: receiving a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. The response frame may include a partial or complete set of operating parameters from one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs.

[0036] In some implementations, one or more operation parameters include at least one of the following: CSA, Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, EDCA parameter, MU EDCA parameter, Quiet Time Element, DSSS parameter set, CF parameter set, OM, UORA parameter, TWT parameter, BSS color change, FILS parameter, SR parameter, HT operation, VHT operation, HE operation, or EHT operation.

[0037] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from this description, the drawings, and the claims. It should be noted that the relative dimensions in the following drawings may not be drawn to scale. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an example wireless communication network is shown.

[0040] Figure 2A An example Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is shown that can be used for communication between an Access Point (AP) and several Stations (STAs).

[0041] Figure 2B It shows Figure 2A Example fields in the PDU.

[0042] Figure 3A Another example PDU that can be used for communication between an AP and one or more STAs is shown.

[0043] Figure 3B Another example PDU that can be used for communication between an AP and one or more STAs is shown.

[0044] Figure 4 An example Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) is shown that can be used for communication between an AP and several STAs.

[0045] Figure 5 A block diagram of an example wireless communication device is shown.

[0046] Figure 6A A block diagram of an example access point (AP) is shown.

[0047] Figure 6B A block diagram of an example station (STA) is shown.

[0048] Figure 7A A flowchart illustrating an example process for wireless communication to support communication between multi-link devices (MLDs) is shown.

[0049] Figure 7B A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementations, is shown.

[0050] Figure 8A The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0051] Figure 8B The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0052] Figure 9 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0053] Figures 10A-10H A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementations, is shown.

[0054] Figure 11 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementations, is shown.

[0055] Figures 12A-12GThe flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting multi-link communication in wireless communication, based on some implementations.

[0056] Figure 13 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0057] Figure 14A A timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication supporting communication between MLDs is shown.

[0058] Figure 14B A timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication supported by some implementations is shown.

[0059] Figure 15 Example frames are shown, including link attribute elements and multilink elements (MLEs) that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices.

[0060] Figure 16A An example MLE that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices is shown.

[0061] Figure 16B It shows Figure 16A Example data fields for MLE.

[0062] Figure 16C It shows Figure 16A Another example data field for MLE.

[0063] Figure 17A A sequence diagram depicting example multilink communication according to some implementations is shown.

[0064] Figure 17B A sequence diagram depicting another example of multilink communication based on some implementations is shown.

[0065] Figure 18 A timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication based on some implementations is shown.

[0066] Figure 19 An example MLE that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices is shown.

[0067] Figure 20 An example of a simplified neighbor report (RNR) element that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices is shown.

[0068] Figure 21 A sequence diagram depicting another example of multilink communication based on some implementations is shown.

[0069] Figure 22The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0070] Figure 23 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0071] Figure 24 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0072] Figure 25 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0073] Figure 26 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations.

[0074] Figure 27 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0075] Figure 28 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0076] Figure 29 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0077] Figure 30 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0078] Figure 31 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0079] Figure 32 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0080] Figure 33 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0081] Figure 34 A flowchart illustrating an example process for supporting wireless communication that indicates critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations, is shown.

[0082] Similar reference numerals and naming conventions in the various figures indicate similar elements.

[0083] Detailed description

[0084] The following description is directed to certain implementations in order to describe aspects of the innovation of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in many different ways. The described implementations can be implemented in accordance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, the IEEE 802.15 standard, and as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The described implementation can be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals according to one or more of the following standards, or those published by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP): Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3G, 4G, or 5G (New Radio (NR)). The described implementation can be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according to one or more of the following technologies or techniques: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), Single Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), Single User (SU) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), and Multi User (MU) MIMO. The described implementation can also be implemented using other wireless communication protocols or RF signals suitable for use in one or more of Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs), or Internet of Things (IoT) networks.

[0085] Various implementations generally involve wireless communication over multiple communication links, and more particularly, the establishment of a multi-link (ML) context that allows multi-link devices (MLDs) (such as access point (AP) MLDs and radio station (STA) MLDs) to discover each other and associate on a first communication link, and then communicate with each other on the first communication link and one or more other communication links without performing discovery, authentication, or association operations on the other communication links. The ML context may also include a shared security context on each communication link associated with the MLD. Furthermore, the ML context can be used to establish or tear down block acceptance (BA) sessions on multiple communication links, and also allows for dynamic mapping between traffic identifiers (TIDs) and communication links.

[0086] The implementation of the subject matter disclosed herein allows MLDs to dynamically add, remove, or modify communication links associated with an ML context using request and response frame exchange on a single communication link. In some implementations, a first MLD and a second MLD may establish an ML context based on the exchange of discovery, authentication, and / or association information on a first communication link. The first MLD may transmit a request to modify a communication link identified in the ML context, and the second MLD may send a response indicating acceptance, rejection, or modification of that request. In some instances, the request may include one or more of the following: a request to add a new communication link to the ML context, a request to remove or delete a specific communication link from the ML context, or a request to modify one or more communication links identified in the ML context or otherwise associated with the first and second MLDs.

[0087] Figure 1 A block diagram of an example wireless communication network 100 is shown. Depending on some aspects, the wireless communication network 100 may be an example of a wireless local area network (WLAN) (such as a Wi-Fi network) (and will be referred to WLAN 100 below). For example, WLAN 100 may be a network implementing at least one of the IEEE 802.11 standard family (such as standards defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or its amendments, including but not limited to 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be). WLAN 100 may include numerous wireless communication devices, such as access points (APs) 102 and multiple stations (STAs) 104. Although only one AP 102 is shown, WLAN network 100 may also include multiple APs 102.

[0088] Each STA 104 may also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), mobile device, mobile handheld device, wireless handheld device, access terminal (AT), user equipment (UE), subscriber station (SS), or subscriber unit, and other possibilities. STA 104 may represent a variety of devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, laptops, tablets, laptops, display devices (e.g., TVs, computer monitors, navigation systems, etc.), music or other audio or stereo devices, remote control devices (“remote controllers”), printers, kitchen or other household appliances, key fobs (e.g., for passive keyless entry and start (PKES) systems), and other possibilities.

[0089] A single AP 102 and its associated set of STAs 104 may be referred to as a Basic Service Set (BSS), which is managed by the corresponding AP 102.Figure 1 Example coverage area 108 of AP 102 is also shown, which may represent the Basic Service Area (BSA) of WLAN 100. The BSA can be identified to users by a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and to other devices by a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), which may be the Media Access Control (MAC) address of AP 102. AP 102 periodically broadcasts a beacon frame (“beacon”) including the BSSID to enable any STA 104 within the wireless range of AP 102 to “associate” or reassociate with AP 102 to establish or maintain a corresponding communication link 106 (hereinafter also referred to as a “Wi-Fi link”) with AP 102. For example, the beacon may include an identifier of the primary channel used by the corresponding AP 102 and a timing synchronization function for establishing or maintaining timing synchronization with AP 102. AP 102 can provide access to external networks to each STA 104 in the WLAN via the corresponding communication link 106.

[0090] In order to establish a communication link 106 with AP 102, each STA 104 is configured to perform passive or active scanning operations (“scanning”) on frequency channels in one or more frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, 6.0 GHz, or 60 GHz bands). To perform a passive scan, STA 104 listens for beacons transmitted by the corresponding AP 102 at periodic time intervals (referred to as Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT) (measured in units of time (TU), where one TU can be equal to 1024 microseconds (μs)). To perform an active scan, STA 104 generates probe requests and transmits these requests sequentially on each channel to be scanned, and listens for probe responses from AP 102. Each STA 104 can be configured to identify or select an AP 102 to associate with based on scan information obtained through passive or active scanning, and perform authentication and association operations to establish a communication link 106 with the selected AP 102. At the end of the association operation, AP 102 assigns an Association Identifier (AID) to STA 104, which AP 102 uses to track STA 104.

[0091] As wireless networks become increasingly prevalent, STA 104 can have the opportunity to choose from one of many BSSs within its range or from multiple APs 102 that together form an Extended Service Set (ESS) (comprising multiple connected BSSs). The extended network station associated with WLAN 100 can be connected to a wired or wireless distribution system that allows multiple APs 102 to be connected in such an ESS. Thus, STA 104 can be covered by more than one AP 102 and can be associated with different APs 102 at different times for different transmissions. Additionally, after associating with an AP 102, STA 104 can also be configured to periodically scan its surroundings to find a more suitable AP 102 to associate with. For example, a STA 104 moving relative to its associated AP 102 can perform a "roaming" scan to find another AP 102 with more suitable network characteristics, such as a larger Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) or reduced traffic load.

[0092] In some scenarios, STA 104 can form a network without AP 102 or other equipment besides STA 104 itself. An example of such a network is an ad hoc network (or wireless ad hoc network). Ad hoc networks are alternatively referred to as mesh networks or peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. In some scenarios, ad hoc networks can be implemented within a larger wireless network (such as WLAN 100). In such implementations, while STA 104 can communicate with each other via communication link 106 through AP 102, STA 104 can also communicate directly with each other via direct wireless link 110. Furthermore, two STA 104 can communicate via direct communication link 110, regardless of whether the two STA 104 are associated with and served by the same AP 102. In such ad hoc systems, one or more STA 104 can assume the role played by AP 102 in the BSS. Such STA 104 can be referred to as the group owner (GO) and can coordinate transmissions within the ad hoc network. Examples of direct wireless links 110 include Wi-Fi Direct connections, connections established using Wi-Fi Tunneling Direct Link Establishment (TDLS) links, and other P2P group connections.

[0093] AP 102 and STA 104 can operate and communicate (via the corresponding communication link 106) according to the IEEE 802.11 standard family (such as standards defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or its revisions, including but not limited to 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be). These standards define the WLAN radio and baseband protocols used for the PHY and Media Access Control (MAC) layers. AP 102 and STA 104 transmit and receive wireless communications (also referred to below as "Wi-Fi communication") to and from each other in the form of Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs). AP 102 and STA 104 in WLAN 100 can transmit PPDUs on unlicensed spectrum, which can be a portion of the spectrum including bands traditionally used by Wi-Fi technologies, such as the 2.4 GHz band, 5.0 GHz band, 60 GHz band, 3.6 GHz band, and 900 MHz band. Some implementations of AP 102 and STA 104 described herein can also communicate in other bands, such as the 6.0 GHz band, that can support both licensed and unlicensed communication. AP 102 and STA 104 can also be configured to communicate on other bands, such as shared licensed bands, where multiple operators may have licenses to operate in one or more of the same or overlapping bands.

[0094] Each frequency band may include multiple sub-bands or frequency channels. For example, PPDUs conforming to revisions of the IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax standards can be transmitted in the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands, where each band is divided into multiple 20 MHz channels. Thus, these PPDUs are transmitted on physical channels with a minimum bandwidth of 20 MHz, but larger channels can be formed through channel bonding. For example, PPDUs can be transmitted on physical channels with bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz by bonding multiple 20 MHz channels together.

[0095] Each PPDU is a composite structure comprising a PHY preamble and a payload in the form of a PLCP Service Data Unit (PSDU). The information provided in the preamble can be used by the receiving equipment to decode subsequent data in the PSDU. In instances where the PPDU is transmitted over a bonded channel, the preamble field may be copied and transmitted in each of the multiple component channels. The PHY preamble may include both a legacy portion (or "legacy preamble") and a non-legacy portion (or "non-legacy preamble"). The legacy preamble can be used for packet detection, automatic gain control, and channel estimation, among other applications. The legacy preamble is also generally used to maintain compatibility with legacy equipment. The format, decoding, and information provided in the non-legacy portion of the preamble are based on the specific IEEE 802.11 protocol to be used for transmitting the payload.

[0096] Figure 2A An example Protocol Data Unit (PDU) 200 is shown that can be used for communication between an AP and several STAs. For example, PDU 200 can be configured as a PPDU. As shown, PDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 202 and a PHY payload 204. For example, the PHY preamble 202 may include a legacy portion, which itself includes a legacy short training field (L-STF) 206, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 208, and a legacy signaling field (L-SIG) 210. The PHY preamble 202 may also include a non-legacy portion (not shown). L-STF 206 generally enables the receiver equipment to perform automatic gain control (AGC) and coarse timing and frequency estimation. L-LTF 208 generally enables the receiver equipment to perform fine timing and frequency estimation, and also to estimate the radio channel. L-SIG 210 generally enables the receiver equipment to determine the duration of the PDU and use the determined duration to avoid transmission over the PDU. For example, L-STF 206, L-LTF 208, and L-SIG 210 can be modulated according to a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme. Payload 204 can be modulated according to a BPSK modulation scheme, a quadrature BPSK (Q-BPSK) modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation scheme, or another appropriate modulation scheme. Payload 204 can generally carry higher-layer data (e.g., in the form of Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) or Aggregated MPDUs (A-MPDUs).

[0097] Figure 2B Show Figure 2AExample L-SIG field 210 in the PDU. L-SIG 210 includes a data rate field 212, reserved bits 214, a length field 216, parity bits 218, and a tail field 220. The data rate field 212 indicates the data rate (note that the data rate indicated in the data rate field 212 may not be the actual data rate of the data carried in the payload 204). The length field 216 indicates the packet length, for example, in bytes. The parity bit 218 is used to detect bit errors. The tail field 220 includes a tail bit that is used by the receiving device to terminate the operation of the decoder (e.g., the Viterbi decoder). The receiving device uses the data rate and length indicated in the data rate field 212 and the length field 216 to determine the packet duration, for example, in microseconds (μs). Figure 3A Another example PDU 300 is shown that can be used for wireless communication between an AP and one or more STAs. PDU 300 can be used for SU, OFDMA, or MU-MIMO transmissions. PDU 300 can be formatted as a High Efficiency (HE) WLAN PPDU according to the IEEE 802.11ax revision of the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard. PDU 300 includes a PHY preamble comprising a legacy portion 302 and a non-legacy portion 304. PDU 300 may further include a PHY payload 306 (e.g., in the form of a PSDU including a data field 324) after the preamble.

[0098] The legacy portion 302 of the preamble includes L-STF 308, L-LTF 310, and L-SIG 312. The non-legacy portion 304 includes a repetition of L-SIG (RL-SIG) 314, a first HE signal field (HE-SIG-A) 316, a short HE training field (HE-STF) 320, and one or more long HE training fields (or symbols) (HE-LTF) 322. For OFDMA or MU-MIMO communication, the second portion 304 further includes a second HE signal field (HE-SIG-B) 318 encoded separately from HE-SIG-A 316. Similar to L-STF 308, L-LTF 310, and L-SIG 312, in instances involving the use of bonded channels, the information in RL-SIG 314 and HE-SIG-A 316 can be copied and transmitted in each component 20MHz channel. In contrast, the contents of HE-SIG-B 318 can be unique for each 20MHz channel and target-specific STA 104.

[0099] RL-SIG 314 indicates to HE-compatible STA 104 that PDU 300 is an HE PPDU. AP 102 can use HE-SIG-A316 to identify multiple STAs 104 and notify them that the AP has scheduled UL or DL ​​resources for them. For example, HE-SIG-A 316 may include a resource allocation subfield indicating the resource allocation for the identified STA 104. HE-SIG-A316 can be decoded by each HE-compatible STA 104 served by AP 102. For MU transmissions, HE-SIG-A 316 further includes information that can be used by each identified STA 104 to decode the associated HE-SIG-B 318. For example, HE-SIG-A 316 may indicate the frame format (including the location and length of HE-SIG-B 318), available channel bandwidth, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and other examples. HE-SIG-A 316 may also include HE WLAN signaling information that can be used by STA 104 other than the identified STA 104.

[0100] HE-SIG-B 318 may carry STA-specific scheduling information, such as, for example, STA-specific (or "user-specific") MCS values ​​and STA-specific RU allocation information. In the context of DL MU-OFDMA, this information enables the corresponding STA 104 to identify and decode the corresponding Resource Unit (RU) in the associated data field 324. Each HE-SIG-B 318 includes a common field and at least one STA-specific field. The common field may indicate RU allocations (including RU assignments in the frequency domain) for multiple STAs 104, indicating which RUs are allocated for MU-MIMO transmissions and which RUs correspond to MU-OFDMA transmissions, as well as the number of users in the allocation and other examples. The common field may be encoded with common bits, CRC bits, and tail bits. The user-specific field is assigned to a specific STA 104 and can be used to schedule a specific RU and indicate that scheduling to other WLAN devices. Each user-specific field may include multiple user block fields. Each user block field may include two user fields, which contain information about the corresponding RU payload for the two corresponding STA decoding data fields 324.

[0101] Figure 3BAnother example PPDU 350 is shown that can be used for wireless communication between an AP and one or more STAs. The PDU 350 can be used for SU, OFDMA, or MU-MIMO transmissions. The PDU 350 can be formatted as an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) WLAN PPDU according to the IEEE 802.11be revision of the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard, or it can be formatted as a PPDU of any future (post-EHT) version conforming to a new wireless communication protocol (conforming to future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standards or other wireless communication standards). The PDU 350 includes a PHY preamble comprising a legacy portion 352 and a non-legacy portion 354. The PDU 350 may further include a PHY payload 356 (e.g., in the form of a PSDU including a data field 376) after the preamble.

[0102] The legacy portion 352 of the preamble includes L-STF 358, L-LTF 360, and L-SIG 362. The non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble includes RL-SIG 364 and several signal fields related to different wireless communication protocol versions following RL-SIG 364. For example, the non-legacy portion 354 may include a general signal field 366 (referred to herein as "U-SIG 366") and an EHT signal field 368 (referred to herein as "EHT-SIG 368"). One or both of U-SIG 366 and EHT-SIG 368 may be configured for other wireless communication protocol versions besides EHT and carry their version-related information. The non-legacy portion 354 further includes an additional short training field 372 (referred to herein as "EHT-STF 372," but may also be constructed to carry version-related information for other wireless communication protocol versions besides EHT) and one or more additional long training fields 374 (referred to herein as "EHT-LTF 374," but may be constructed to carry version-related information for other wireless communication protocol versions besides EHT). Similar to L-STF 358, L-LTF 360, and L-SIG 362, in instances involving the use of bonded channels, the information in U-SIG 366 and EHT-SIG 368 may be copied and transmitted in each component 20MHz channel. In some implementations, EHT-SIG 368 may additionally or alternatively carry information different from that carried in the primary 20MHz channel in one or more non-primary 20MHz channels.

[0103] EHT-SIG 368 may include one or more jointly encoded symbols and may be encoded in a different block than the block in which U-SIG 366 is encoded. EHT-SIG 368 may be used by the AP to identify multiple STAs 104 and to notify them that the AP has scheduled UL or DL ​​resources for them. EHT-SIG 368 may be decoded by each compatible STA 104 served by AP 102. EHT-SIG 368 may generally be used by the receiving device to interpret the bits in data field 376. For example, EHT-SIG 368 may include RU allocation information, spatial flow configuration information, and per-user signaling information (such as MCS) and other examples. EHT-SIG 368 may further include a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) (e.g., 4 bits) and a tail (e.g., 6 bits) that may be used for binary convolutional codes (BCC). In some implementations, EHT-SIG 368 may include one or more code blocks, each containing a CRC and a tail. In some aspects, each code block may be encoded individually.

[0104] EHT-SIG 368 can carry STA-specific scheduling information, such as, for example, user-specific MCS values ​​and user-specific RU allocation information. EHT-SIG 368 can generally be used by the receiving device to interpret the bits in data field 376. In the context of DL MU-OFDMA, this information enables the corresponding STA 104 to identify and decode the corresponding RU in the associated data field 376. Each EHT-SIG 368 may include a common field and at least one user-specific field. The common field may indicate the RU distribution across multiple STAs 104, indicate RU assignment in the frequency domain, indicate which RUs are allocated for MU-MIMO transmissions and which RUs correspond to MU-OFDMA transmissions, and the number of users in the allocation, among other examples. The common field may be encoded with common bits, CRC bits, and tail bits. The user-specific field is assigned to a specific STA 104 and can be used to schedule specific RUs and indicate this scheduling to other WLAN devices. Each user-specific field may include multiple user block fields. Each user block field may include, for example, two user fields containing information for two corresponding STAs to decode their respective RU payloads.

[0105] The presence of RL-SIG 364 and U-SIG 366 allows for compatibility with EHT or future versions. STA 104 indicates that PPDU 350 is an EHT PPDU or any future (post-EHT) version of a PPDU that conforms to a new wireless communication protocol (conforming to the future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard). For example, U-SIG 366 can be used by the receiving device to interpret bits in one or more of EHT-SIG 368 or data field 376.

[0106] Figure 4 An example PPDU 400 is shown that can be used for communication between AP 102 and several STAs 104. As described above, each PPDU 400 includes a PHY preamble 402 and a PSDU 404. Each PSDU 404 may carry one or more MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs). For example, each PSDU 404 may carry an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU) 408, which includes an aggregation of multiple A-MPDU subframes 406. Each A-MPDU subframe 406 may include a MAC delimiter 410 and a MAC header 412 preceding an accompanying MPDU 414, which includes the data portion (“payload” or “frame body”) of the A-MPDU subframe 406. MPDU 414 may carry one or more MAC Service Data Unit (MSDU) subframes 416. For example, MPDU 414 may carry an aggregated MSDU (A-MSDU) 418, which includes multiple MSDU subframes 416. Each MSDU subframe 416 contains the corresponding MSDU 420 following the subframe header 422.

[0107] Referring back to A-MPDU subframe 406, MAC header 412 may include several fields containing information defining or indicating the characteristics or attributes of the data encapsulated within frame body 414. MAC header 412 may also include several fields indicating the address of the data encapsulated within frame body 414. For example, MAC header 412 may include a combination of source address, sender address, receiver address, or destination address. MAC header 412 may include a frame control field containing control information. The frame control field specifies the frame type, such as a data frame, control frame, or management frame. MAC header 412 may further include a duration field indicating the duration from the end of the PPDU until the acknowledgment (ACK) of the last PPDU to be transmitted by the wireless communication device (e.g., block ACK (BA) in the case of A-MPDU). The duration field is used to preserve the indicated duration of the wireless medium, thereby establishing NAV. Each A-MPDU subframe 406 may also include a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field 424 for error detection. For example, FCS field 416 may include cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

[0108] As described above, AP 102 and STA 104 can support multi-user (MU) communication; that is, concurrent transmission from one device to each of multiple devices (e.g., multiple simultaneous downlink (DL) communications from AP 102 to corresponding STA 104s), or concurrent transmission from multiple devices to a single device (e.g., multiple simultaneous uplink (UL) communications from corresponding STA 104s to AP 102). To support MU transmission, AP 102 and STA 104 can utilize multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) and multi-user orthogonal frequency division multiple access (MU-OFDMA) technologies.

[0109] In the MU-OFDMA scheme, the available spectrum of the radio channel can be divided into multiple resource elements (RUs), each comprising several different frequency subcarriers (“frequency modulo”). Different RUs can be allocated by AP 102 at specific times or assigned to different STAs 104. The size and distribution of RUs are referred to as RU allocation. In some implementations, RUs can be allocated in 2MHz intervals, and thus, the minimum RU can include 26 frequency moduloes, comprising 24 data frequency moduloes and 2 pilot frequency moduloes. Therefore, in a 20MHz channel, up to 9 RUs (such as 2MHz, 26 frequency modulo RUs) can be allocated (because some frequency moduloes are reserved for other purposes). Similarly, in a 160MHz channel, up to 74 RUs can be allocated. Larger RUs of 52, 106, 242, 484, and 996 frequency moduloes can also be allocated. Adjacent RUs can be separated by empty subcarriers (such as DC subcarriers) to reduce interference between adjacent RUs, reduce receiver DC offset, and avoid leakage of the transmit center frequency.

[0110] For UL MU transmissions, AP 102 can transmit trigger frames to initiate and synchronize UL MU-OFDMA or UL MU-MIMO transmissions from multiple STAs 104 to AP 102. Such trigger frames thus enable multiple STAs 104 to concurrently send UL traffic to AP 102 in time. The trigger frame can address one or more STAs 104 via a corresponding Association Identifier (AID), and can assign one or more RUs to each AID (and thus to each STA 104), which can be used to send UL traffic to AP 102. The AP can also specify one or more Random Access (RA) RUs that are contentious for by unscheduled STAs 104.

[0111] Figure 5 A block diagram of an example wireless communication device 500 is shown. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 500 may be for STAs (such as those mentioned above). Figure 1Examples of devices in one of the STAs 104 described above. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 500 may be for an AP (such as those described above). Figure 1 Example of a device in the described AP 102. Wireless communication device 500 is capable of transmitting (or outputting for transmission) and receiving wireless communications (e.g., in the form of wireless packets). For example, the wireless communication device can be configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) and Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) conforming to IEEE 802.11 standards (such as those defined by the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification or its amendments, including but not limited to 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be).

[0112] Wireless communication device 500 may be or may include a chip, system-on-a-chip (SoC), chipset, package, or device that includes one or more modems 502 (e.g., a Wi-Fi (compliant with IEEE 802.11) modem). In some implementations, one or more modems 502 (collectively, "modem 502") additionally include a WWAN modem (e.g., a 3GPP 4G LTE or 5G compatible modem). In some implementations, wireless communication device 500 also includes one or more radios 504 (collectively, "radio 504"). In some implementations, wireless communication device 506 further includes one or more processors, processing blocks, or processing elements 506 (collectively, "processor 506") and one or more memory blocks or elements 508 (collectively, "memory 508").

[0113] Modem 502 may include intelligent hardware blocks or devices (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)). Modem 502 is generally configured to implement the PHY layer. For example, modem 502 is configured to modulate packets and output modulated packets to radio 504 for transmission over a wireless medium. Similarly, modem 502 is configured to receive modulated packets received by radio 504 and demodulate these packets to provide demodulated packets. In addition to modulators and demodulators, modem 502 may further include digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry, automatic gain control (AGC), encoders, decoders, multiplexers, and demultiplexers. For example, when in transmission mode, data obtained from processor 506 is provided to a decoder, which encodes the data to provide encoded bits. The encoded bits are then mapped to points in a modulation constellation (using a selected MCS) to provide modulated symbols. Subsequently, the modulated symbols may be mapped to several (N) SS One) spatial flow or several (N) STS (1) space-time stream. Subsequently, the modulated symbols in the corresponding space stream or space-time stream can be multiplexed, transformed via an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) block, and then provided to the DSP circuitry for Tx windowing and filtering. The digital signal can then be provided to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The resulting analog signal can then be provided to an upconverter and finally to radio 504. In implementations involving beamforming, the modulated symbols in the corresponding space stream are pre-coded via a guiding matrix before being provided to the IFFT block.

[0114] In receive mode, the digital signal received from radio 504 is provided to a DSP circuitry system configured to acquire the received signal, for example, by detecting the presence of the signal and estimating the initial timing and frequency offset. The DSP circuitry system is further configured to digitally condition the digital signal, for example, using channel (narrowband) filtering, analog impairment conditioning (such as correcting I / Q imbalance), and applying digital gain to ultimately obtain a narrowband signal. The output of the DSP circuitry system can then be fed to an AGC, configured to use information extracted from the digital signal (e.g., in one or more received training fields) to determine an appropriate gain. The output of the DSP circuitry system is also coupled to a demodulator configured to extract modulated symbols from the signal and, for example, calculate the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) for each bit position of each subcarrier in each spatial stream. The demodulator is coupled to a decoder configured to process the LLR to provide decoded bits. The decoded bits from all spatial streams are then fed to a demultiplexer for demultiplexing. The demultiplexed bits can then be descrambled and provided to the MAC layer (processor 506) for processing, evaluation, or interpretation.

[0115] Radio 504 generally includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter (or “transmitter chain”) and at least one RF receiver (or “receiver chain”), which may be combined into one or more transceivers. For example, the RF transmitter and receiver may include various DSP circuitry systems, each including at least one power amplifier (PA) and at least one low-noise amplifier (LNA). The RF transmitter and receiver may then be coupled to one or more antennas. For example, in some implementations, wireless communication device 500 may include or be coupled to multiple transmit antennas (each with a corresponding transmit chain) and multiple receive antennas (each with a corresponding receive chain). Symbols output from modem 502 are provided to radio 504, which then transmits these symbols via the coupled antennas. Similarly, symbols received via the antennas are acquired by radio 504, which then provides these symbols to modem 502.

[0116] Processor 506 may include intelligent hardware blocks or devices designed to perform the functions described herein, such as, for example, processing cores, processing blocks, central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs) (such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. Processor 506 processes information received via radio 504 and modem 502, and processes information to be output via modem 502 and radio 504 for transmission over a wireless medium. For example, processor 506 may implement a control plane and a MAC layer, configured to perform various operations related to the generation and transmission of MPDUs, frames, or packets. The MAC layer is configured to perform or facilitate frame decoding and decoding, spatial multiplexing, space-time block decoding (STBC), beamforming, and OFDMA resource allocation, and other operations or techniques. In some implementations, processor 506 may generally control modem 502 to cause the modem to perform the various operations described above.

[0117] Memory 504 may include tangible storage media, such as random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), or combinations thereof. Memory 504 may also store non-transient processor or computer-executable software (SW) code containing instructions that, when executed by processor 506, cause the processor to perform various operations described herein for wireless communication, including the generation, transmission, reception, and interpretation of MPDUs, frames, or packets. For example, the various functions of the components disclosed herein, or the various blocks or steps of the methods, operations, processes, or algorithms disclosed herein, may be implemented as one or more modules of one or more computer programs.

[0118] Figure 6A A block diagram of example AP 602 is shown. For example, AP 602 could be a reference... Figure 1 The described example implementation of AP 102. AP 602 includes a wireless communication device (WCD) 610. For example, the wireless communication device 610 may be a reference... Figure 5 An example implementation of the described wireless communication device 500 is described. AP 602 also includes a plurality of antennas 620 coupled to the wireless communication device 610 for transmitting and receiving wireless communications. In some implementations, AP 602 additionally includes an application processor 630 coupled to the wireless communication device 610, and a memory 640 coupled to the application processor 630. AP 602 further includes at least one external network interface 650, which enables AP 602 to communicate with a core network or backhaul network to obtain access to external networks, including the Internet. For example, external network interface 650 may include one or both of a wired (e.g., Ethernet) network interface and a wireless network interface (such as a WWAN interface). Components of the foregoing can communicate directly or indirectly with other components of these components on at least one bus. AP 602 further includes a housing that encloses the wireless communication device 610, application processor 630, memory 640, and at least a portion of the antennas 620 and external network interface 650.

[0119] Figure 6B A block diagram of example STA 604 is shown. For example, STA 604 can be a reference... Figure 1 The described example implementation of STA 104. STA 604 includes a wireless communication device 615. For example, the wireless communication device 615 may be a reference... Figure 5An example implementation of the described wireless communication device 500. STA 604 also includes one or more antennas 625 coupled to the wireless communication device 615 for transmitting and receiving wireless communications. STA 604 additionally includes an application processor 635 coupled to the wireless communication device 615, and a memory 645 coupled to the application processor 635. In some implementations, STA 604 further includes a user interface (UI) 655 (such as a touchscreen or keyboard) and a display 665, which can be integrated with the UI 655 to form a touchscreen display. In some implementations, STA 604 may further include one or more sensors 675 (for example, one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors). Components of the foregoing components can communicate directly or indirectly with other components of these components on at least one bus. STA 604 further includes a housing that encloses the wireless communication device 615, the application processor 635, the memory 645, and at least portions of the antenna 625, the UI 655, and the display 665.

[0120] As described above, various implementations generally involve multi-link (ML) communication, particularly the establishment of ML communication sessions between wireless communication devices. Aspects of this disclosure provide a single multi-link association (MLA) context shared among multiple MLDs for multiple links. Under certain conditions (such as high congestion on a first link), an MLD can switch from communicating on the first link to communicating on a second link. Specifically, the single ML context disclosed herein can be shared between the MAC-SAP endpoints of the MLDs, allowing the MLDs to communicate dynamically on any link shared between them without needing to deassociate or reassociate with each other. For example, in some instances, MLDs that are associated and authenticated with each other on a single link can use the same determined association and authentication parameters (such as capabilities, operating parameters, configuration, encryption keys, and other ML communication parameters) for communication on any link.

[0121] Some implementations more specifically involve an AP MLD comprising a first AP associated with a first communication link and one or more secondary APs associated with corresponding secondary communication links. The first AP of the AP MLD generates a frame including one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, a first change sequence number (CSN) indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the first communication link regarding the AP MLD, and one or more secondary CSNs, each indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the corresponding secondary communication link regarding the AP MLD. The first AP transmits the frame to the STA of the STA MLD on the first communication link. The first CSN indicates the latest critical update for one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, and each secondary CSN indicates the latest critical update for one or more operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link. In some implementations, each of the secondary CSNs may be carried in a corresponding per-link profile sub-element of the MLE. In some other implementations, each of the secondary CSNs may be carried in the corresponding neighbor AP information field of a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element. Alternatively, the first CSN and one or more secondary CSNs may be carried in a sequence counter field of the frame or in an information element of the frame.

[0122] In some other implementations, the frame may further include one or more Do Not Transmit (DNT) indications, each DNT indication being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the frame may further include a DNT indication for a first communication link. Each DNT indication may indicate whether the wireless communication device intends to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, at least some of the wireless communication devices may monitor the first communication link without monitoring the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication. In some implementations, the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link may be based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silence time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0123] Specific implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. By announcing one or more of the critical updates, DNT conditions, or operating parameters of one or more sub-communication links using frames transmitted on the first communication link, the STA (such as an STA MLD) can receive one or more of the critical updates, DNT conditions, or operating parameters of each sub-communication link without monitoring that sub-communication link. This can allow the STA to save the power associated with performing scan or listen operations on each of the sub-communication links.

[0124] Figure 7AA flowchart illustrating an example process 700 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 700 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 700 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 700 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 700 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0125] In some implementations, process 700 begins at block 702 by transmitting a first packet on a first communication link, the first packet including discovery information about at least the first and second communication links. At block 704, process 700 proceeds to receiving an ML association request from a second wireless communication device on the first communication link, based at least in part on the discovery information. At block 706, process 700 proceeds to transmitting a second packet on the first communication link, the second packet including association information about at least the first and second communication links.

[0126] In block 708, process 700 proceeds to associate with a second wireless communication device, at least in part, based on the association information. In some implementations, associating includes establishing at least one ML communication parameter for communicating with the second wireless communication device on the first and second communication links. This at least one ML communication parameter may be the same for each of the first and second communication links. In some other implementations, associating includes establishing a shared security context between a first Media Access Control Service Access Point (MAC-SAP) endpoint of the first wireless communication device and a second MAC-SAP endpoint of the second wireless communication device. Each of the first and second MAC-SAP endpoints may be used for communication on both the first and second communication links. In block 710, process 700 proceeds to communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second communication link based on the association with the second wireless communication device on the first communication link.

[0127] Figure 7B A flowchart illustrating an example process 720 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementation, is shown. Process 720 can be implemented by a wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 720 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 andFigure 6B The process 720 can be performed by a wireless communication device that operates as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). In other implementations, process 720 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0128] Reference Figure 7A Process 720 may be a more detailed implementation of the ML communication operation described in block 710 of process 700. For example, in block 722, process 720 may begin after association with a second wireless communication device in block 708 of process 700.

[0129] In box 722, process 720 proceeds to establish a Block Acknowledgment (BA) session with a second wireless communication device, which associates at least one Traffic Identifier (TID) with a first subset of the first, second, and third communication links. This BA session can be shared for each of the first, second, and third communication links. In box 724, process 720 proceeds to dynamically reassign the at least one TID to a second subset of the first, second, and third communication links. In box 726, process 720 proceeds to indicate this reassignment in the Add Block Acknowledgment (ADDBA) capability field of the third packet.

[0130] Figure 8A A flowchart illustrating an example process 800 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 800 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 800 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 800 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 800 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0131] In some implementations, process 800 begins at block 802 with receiving a first packet from a second wireless communication device on a first communication link, the first packet including discovery information about at least the first and second communication links. At block 804, process 800 proceeds to transmitting an ML association request on the first communication link, at least in part based on the discovery information. At block 806, process 800 proceeds to receiving a second packet on the first communication link, the second packet including association information about at least the first and second communication links. In some implementations, the first A-MPDU subframe may be aligned with codeword boundaries in a PSDU such that portions of the first A-MPDU subframe are not encapsulated within the same LDPC codeword as portions of another A-MPDU subframe in the PSDU.

[0132] At block 808, process 800 proceeds to associate with a second wireless communication device, at least in part, based on the association information. In some implementations, associating includes establishing at least one ML communication parameter for communicating with the second wireless communication device on the first and second communication links. This at least one ML communication parameter may be the same for each of the first and second communication links. In some other implementations, associating includes establishing a shared security context between a first Media Access Control Service Access Point (MAC-SAP) endpoint of the first wireless communication device and a second MAC-SAP endpoint of the second wireless communication device. Each of the first and second MAC-SAP endpoints may be used for communication on the first and second communication links. At block 810, process 800 proceeds to communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second communication link based on the association with the second wireless communication device on the first communication link.

[0133] Figure 8B A flowchart illustrating an example process 820 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementation, is shown. Process 820 can be implemented by a wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 820 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 820 can be performed by a wireless communication device that operates as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). In other implementations, process 820 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0134] Reference Figure 8AProcess 820 may be a more detailed implementation of the ML communication operation described in block 810 of process 800. For example, in block 820, process 822 may begin after association with the second wireless communication device in block 808 of process 800.

[0135] In block 822, process 820 proceeds to establish a Block Acknowledgment (BA) session with a second wireless communication device, which associates at least one Traffic Identifier (TID) with a first subset of the first, second, and third communication links. This BA session can be shared for each of the first, second, and third communication links. In block 824, process 820 proceeds to receive a third packet that indicates in an Add Block Acknowledgment (ADDBA) capability field that the at least one TID is reassigned to a second subset of the first, second, and third communication links.

[0136] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating an example process 900 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 900 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 900 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 9 For example, process 900 is performed by an AP multilink device (MLD) that includes a first access point (AP) and one or more secondary APs. The first AP may be associated with a first communication link of the AP MLD, and each secondary AP may be associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0137] In block 902, the first AP of the AP MLD generates a frame including one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, a first change sequence number (CSN) indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the first communication link of the AP MLD, and one or more secondary CSNs, each indicating the presence or absence of a corresponding critical update for the secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In block 904, the first AP transmits the frame on the first communication link. The frame may be one of a beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, or Fast Initial Link Establishment (FILS) discovery frame.

[0138] In some implementations, the first CSN indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, and each secondary CSN indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link for the AP MLD. In some implementations, the first CSN and the one or more secondary CSNs are carried in the sequence counter field of the frame. In some other instances, the first CSN and the one or more secondary CSNs are carried in an information element.

[0139] In some implementations, the frame includes a Multi-Link Element (MLE) element carrying the one or more secondary CSNs. In some instances, the MLE includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary communication links. In some other instances, the one or more per-link profile elements include an Information Element (IE) carrying the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary CSNs. In some other instances, the MLE includes a common parameter field carrying the one or more secondary CSNs.

[0140] In some other implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame, which includes one or more per-link profile elements, each of which carries the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links. In some instances, the beacon frame may include one or more per-link profile elements, wherein each per-link profile sub-element carries the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0141] In some implementations, the frame includes an MLE carrying the one or more secondary CSNs. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary communication links. In some instances, each per-link profile sub-element may include an information element (IE) that includes the corresponding secondary CSN. In some other instances, the MLE may include a common parameter field carrying the secondary CSN.

[0142] In some implementations, the frame may include a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element carrying the one or more secondary CSNs. In some instances, the RNR element may include one or more Neighbor AP Information fields, where each Neighbor AP Information field carries the corresponding secondary CSN from the one or more secondary CSNs.

[0143] In some implementations, a critical update may correspond to a change in one or more operating parameters of the BSS, and the critical update is associated with at least one of the first communication link or one or more secondary communication links.

[0144] In some implementations, the one or more operational parameters may include at least one of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0145] In some implementations, the frame may further include one or more Do Not Transmit (DNT) indications, each DNT indication being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the frame may further include a DNT indication for a first communication link. Each DNT indication may indicate whether the wireless communication device intends to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, at least some of the wireless communication devices may monitor the first communication link without monitoring the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication. In some implementations, the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link may be based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silence time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0146] In some implementations, the DNT indication for the first communication link and one or more DNT indications for the corresponding one or more secondary communication links may be carried in the bitmap of the frame. In some other implementations, one or more DNT indications for the corresponding one or more secondary communication links may be carried in the MLE of the frame. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, where each per-link profile sub-element carries the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link. In some other instances, each per-link profile element may also carry the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0147] In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame, which includes one or more per-link profile elements, each carrying a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link. In some instances, each of the one or more per-link profile elements may be an information element (IE). In some other instances, the MLE may include a common parameter field carrying one or more DNT indications for one or more corresponding sub-communication links. In some other implementations, the beacon frame may carry one or more profiles, each carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link in one or more sub-communication links.

[0148] In some implementations, the one or more DNT indications may be carried in the Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element of the frame. In some instances, the RNR element may include one or more neighbor AP information fields, where each neighbor AP information field carries a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0149] Figure 10A The diagram illustrates an example process 1000 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation. Process 1000 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1000 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10A Example, process 1000 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10A The process 1000 can be completed Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0150] In block 1002, the first AP receives a notification of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary communication link from one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD associated with that secondary communication link. In block 1004, based on this notification, the first AP increments the secondary CSN corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0151] In some implementations, a critical update regarding the first communication link or at least one of one or more secondary communication links may correspond to a change in one or more operating parameters of the basic service set (BSS) associated with the first communication link or at least one of one or more secondary communication links.

[0152] Figure 10BA flowchart illustrating an example process 1010 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1010 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, process 1010 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10B Example, process 1010 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10B The process 1010 can be completed in Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0153] In block 1012, the first AP receives a notification from the corresponding secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD regarding a no-transmission (DNT) condition for the corresponding secondary communication link. In block 1014, the first AP asserts a DNT indication corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link. In block 1014, the first AP broadcasts the asserted DNT indication corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link on the first communication link.

[0154] In some implementations, each DNT indication may indicate whether a wireless communication device should suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, at least some of the wireless communication devices may monitor the first communication link without monitoring the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication. In some implementations, the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link may be based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silence time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0155] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0156] Figure 10C A flowchart illustrating an example process 1020 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1020 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1020 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10C Example, process 1020 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10C The process 1020 can be completed Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0157] In block 1022, the first AP receives an indication of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary communication link from the corresponding secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link in the AP MLD. In block 1024, the first AP transmits a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link. In some other implementations, the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0158] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0159] Figure 10D A flowchart illustrating an example process 1030 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1030 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 1030 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately).Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10D Example, process 1030 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10D The process 1030 can be completed Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0160] In block 1032, the first AP receives a probe request frame from the STA of the radio station (STA) MLD. In block 1034, the first AP transmits a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD to the STA MLD on the first communication link.

[0161] In some implementations, the response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link for which one or more operating parameters have been updated. In some implementations, the request frame may be received by one of the first APs of the AP MLD on the first communication link or by the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD on the corresponding secondary communication link. In some other implementations, the response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links. In some instances, the request frame may be a broadcast probe request frame.

[0162] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0163] Figure 10E A flowchart illustrating an example process 1040 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1040 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 1040 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6AThe wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10E Example, process 1040 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10E Process 1040 can be performed Figure 9 The AP MLD in box 904 is executed after transmitting the frame. In some implementations, the probe request frame may carry a CSN indicating the latest received critical update for a specified secondary communication link among the one or more secondary communication links for that AP MLD.

[0164] In block 1042, the first AP identifies one or more CSNs for the specified secondary communication link that the STA MLD's STA missed, based on the received CSN. In block 1044, the first AP transmits a response frame that indicates one or more secondary CSNs for the specified secondary communication link that the STA MLD's STA missed.

[0165] In some implementations, the response frame may be a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates about the specified secondary communication link that the STA missed. In some instances, the one or more critical updates missed by the STA may be determined based on a comparison between the received CSN and the one or more secondary CSNs missed by the STA.

[0166] In some implementations, the response frame can be either a unicast probe response frame or a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for the specified secondary communication link. In some instances, the response frame can be a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for each of the specified and other non-specified secondary communication links.

[0167] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0168] Figure 10F A flowchart illustrating an example process 1050 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1050 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1050 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10F Example, process 1050 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10F The process 1050 can be completed Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0169] In block 1052, the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD can receive a probe request frame from the STA of the radio station (STA) MLD on the designated secondary communication link. In block 1054, the corresponding secondary AP can transmit a response frame to the STA MLD on the designated secondary communication link. In block 1056, the first AP can transmit the response frame to the STA MLD along with one or more updated operating parameters for the designated secondary communication link.

[0170] In some implementations, the probe request frame may carry a CSN indicating the latest received critical update regarding the specified secondary communication link. In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0171] Figure 10G A flowchart illustrating an example process 1060 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1060 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1060 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10G Example, process 1060 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10G The process 1060 can be performed Figure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0172] In block 1062, the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD can receive a probe request frame from the STA of the radio station (STA) MLD on the designated secondary communication link. In block 1064, the corresponding secondary AP can transmit a response frame to the STA MLD, the response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the designated secondary communication link.

[0173] In some implementations, the response frame can be either a unicast probe response frame or a beacon frame. In some implementations, the set of operational parameters can include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0174] Figure 10H A flowchart illustrating an example process 1070 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1070 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs this operation. In some implementations, process 1070 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 10H Example, process 1070 is referenced Figure 9 The described AP MLD is used for execution. In some implementations, Figure 10H Process 1070 can be performedFigure 9 The AP MLD in frame 904 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0175] In block 1072, the first AP receives an indication of one or more critical updates regarding the corresponding secondary communication link from the corresponding secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In block 1074, the first AP transmits a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame on the first communication link, the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0176] In some implementations, the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame occurs after a period of time following the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD. In some instances, the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD includes an indication of the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0177] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0178] Figure 11 A flowchart illustrating an example process 1100 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1100 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1100 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 11 For example, process 1100 is executed by the STA of STA MLD.

[0179] In block 1102, the STA MLD associates with a first AP of an Access Point (AP) MLD. The AP MLD includes one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In block 1104, the STA MLD receives a frame from the first AP on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame may include one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, a first Change Sequence Number (CSN) indicating the presence or absence of a critical update regarding the first communication link of the AP MLD, and one or more secondary CSNs, each of the one or more secondary CSNs indicating the presence or absence of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0180] In some implementations, the frame may be one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame. In some implementations, a critical update may correspond to a change in one or more operating parameters of the BSS, which is associated with at least one of a first communication link or one or more secondary communication links. In some implementations, the one or more operating parameters may include at least one of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, BSS color change, FILS parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0181] In some implementations, the first CSN may indicate a latest key update to one or more operating parameters for a first communication link, and each of the one or more sub-CSNs may indicate a latest key update to one or more operating parameters for a corresponding sub-communication link for the AP MLD. In some implementations, the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs may be carried in the sequence counter field of the frame. In some other instances, the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs may be carried in an information element.

[0182] In some implementations, the frame may include a multi-link element (MLE) carrying the one or more secondary CSNs. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of which carries the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary communication links. In some other instances, the MLE may include a common parameter field carrying the one or more secondary CSNs.

[0183] In some other implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame, which includes one or more per-link profile elements, each of which carries the sub-CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links. In some implementations, each of the one or more per-link profile elements may be an information element (IE), which includes the corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0184] In some other implementations, the frame may include a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element, which includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of which carries the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links. In some instances, the frame may include a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element carrying the one or more secondary CSNs. In some other instances, the RNR element may include one or more Neighbor AP Information fields, each of which carries the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary CSNs.

[0185] In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame carrying one or more profiles, each profile carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links. In some other implementations, the frame may further include one or more Do Not Transmit (DNT) indications, each of the one or more DNT indications being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In some instances, the frame may further include a DNT indication for a first communication link. Each DNT indication may indicate whether the wireless communication device wants to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, at least some of the wireless communication devices may monitor the first communication link without monitoring the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication. In some implementations, the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link may be based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silence time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP of the AP MLD associated with the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0186] Figure 12A A flowchart illustrating an example process 1200 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1200 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1200 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12A In the example, process 1200 is executed by STA MLD. Figure 12A The process 1200 can be completed Figure 11 The STA MLD in box 1104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0187] In block 1202, the STA MLD increments the first CSN counter in the STA of the STA MLD based on the presence of a critical update regarding the first communication link of the AP MLD indicated by the first CSN. In block 1204, the STA MLD increments the one or more secondary CSN counters in the STA of the STA MLD based on the presence of a critical update regarding one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD indicated by one or more corresponding secondary CSNs.

[0188] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0189] Figure 12B A flowchart illustrating an example process 1210 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1210 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, process 1210 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, see references to the respective devices). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12B In the example, process 1210 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations, Figure 12B Process 1210 can be performed Figure 11 The STA MLD in box 1104 is executed after receiving the frame. In box 1212, the STA MLD suppresses transmission on each secondary communication link for each DNT condition indicated by its corresponding DNT.

[0190] In some implementations, the frame may further include a DNT indication for the first communication link. In some instances, the DNT indication for the first communication link and one or more DNT indications for the corresponding one or more secondary communication links may be carried in the bit mapping of the frame.

[0191] In some implementations, the DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link may be based on one or more of the following: a channel switching announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silent time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link in the AP MLD.

[0192] In some implementations, each of the one or more DNT indicators can indicate whether the wireless communication device wants to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, the STA of the STA MLD can monitor the first communication link without monitoring the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indicator.

[0193] In some implementations, one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding secondary communication links may be carried in the multilink element (MLE) of the frame. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more perlink profile sub-elements, each of which carries a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary CSN in the one or more secondary communication links. In some other instances, the one or more perlink profile elements may be information elements (IEs). In some instances, the MLE may include a common parameter field that carries one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding secondary communication links.

[0194] In some implementations, the frame may include a multi-link element (MLE), which includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of which carries the DNT indication and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link.

[0195] In some implementations, one or more DNT indications for the corresponding secondary communication link may be carried in the Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element of the frame. In some instances, the RNR element may include one or more neighbor AP information fields, where each neighbor AP information field carries a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0196] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0197] Figure 12CA flowchart illustrating an example process 1220 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1220 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1220 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, see references to the respective implementations). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12C In the example, process 1220 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations, Figure 12C The process 1220 can be completed Figure 11 The STA MLD in box 1104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0198] In block 1222, the STAMLD receives an indication of a non-transmission (DNT) condition for a specified secondary communication link among one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD on the first communication link. In block 1224, based on the received DNT indication, the STAMLD suppresses transmission on the specified secondary communication link.

[0199] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0200] Figure 12D A flowchart illustrating an example process 1230 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1230 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1230 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, see references to the respective devices). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12DIn the example, process 1230 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations, Figure 12D The process 1230 can be found Figure 11 The STA MLD in box 1104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0201] In box 1232, the STA MLD receives a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. The spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0202] In some implementations, the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame may occur after a period of time following the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD. In some instances, the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD may include an indication of the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD. In some implementations, the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0203] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0204] Figure 12E A flowchart illustrating an example process 1240 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1240 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1240 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, see references to the respective devices). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12E In this example, process 1240 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations,Figure 12E The process 1240 can be completed Figure 11 The STA MLD in box 1104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0205] In box 1242, the STA MLD receives an indication of a critical update for a specified secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link.

[0206] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0207] Figure 12F A flowchart illustrating an example process 1250 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1250 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1250 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12F In this example, process 1250 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations, Figure 12F The process 1250 can be completed Figure 12E The STA MLD in box 1242 is executed after receiving the instruction for the critical update.

[0208] In box 1252, the STA MLD transmits a probe request frame on the first communication link. In box 1254, the STA MLD receives a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link.

[0209] In some implementations, the response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for specifying the secondary communication link. In some implementations, the response frame may carry a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links. In some implementations, the probe request frame may be a broadcast probe request frame.

[0210] In some implementations, the probe request frame may carry a CSN indicating the latest received critical update regarding the specified secondary communication link, and the response frame may carry an indication of one or more secondary CSNs for the specified secondary communication link that the STA MLD has missed. In some implementations, the response frame may be a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates that the STA has missed regarding the specified secondary communication link.

[0211] In some implementations, the response frame may be either a unicast probe response frame or a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for the specified secondary communication link. In some implementations, the response frame may be a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for each of the specified and other non-specified secondary communication links.

[0212] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0213] Figure 12G A flowchart illustrating an example process 1260 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1260 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1260 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, see references to the respective devices). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 12GIn this example, process 1260 is performed by the STA multi-link device (MLD). In some implementations, Figure 12F The process 1260 can be found Figure 12E The STA MLD in box 1242 is executed after receiving the instruction for the critical update.

[0214] In box 1262, the STA MLD transmits a probe request frame on the designated secondary communication link. In box 1264, the STA MLD receives a response frame from the secondary AP associated with the designated secondary communication link of the AP MLD on the designated secondary communication link.

[0215] In some implementations, the response frame may carry the complete set of operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link. In other implementations, the response frame may carry the complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links. In some instances, the probe request frame may be a broadcast probe request frame.

[0216] In some implementations, the probe request frame may carry a CSN indicating the latest received critical update regarding the specified secondary communication link, and the response frame may carry an indication of one or more secondary CSNs for the specified secondary communication link that the STA MLD has missed. In some instances, the response frame may be a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates regarding the specified secondary communication link that the STA has missed.

[0217] In some implementations, the response frame may be either a unicast probe response frame or a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for the specified secondary communication link. In some other implementations, the response frame may be a broadcast probe response frame, carrying a complete set of operational parameters for each of the specified and other non-specified secondary communication links.

[0218] In some implementations, the set of operational parameters may include one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0219] Figure 13 A flowchart illustrating an example process 1300 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, according to some implementation, is shown. Process 1300 can be performed by a first wireless communication device (such as the one mentioned above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 1300 can be performed by a wireless station (STA) (as described above, respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 13 For example, process 1300 is performed by a STA MLD that includes at least one first STA. The first STA may be associated with a first communication link of the AP MLD, which may include one or more secondary communication links different from the first communication link. In some implementations, the AP MLD includes a first AP associated with the first communication link and includes one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0220] In block 1302, the first STA receives a frame on the first communication link, the frame including an indication of an update to at least one operating parameter of a designated secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In block 1304, based on the received indication of the update, the STA MLD determines that the first STA of the STA MLD cannot support the update of at least one operating parameter of the designated secondary communication link. In block 1306, the STA MLD removes the designated secondary communication link from the multi-link (ML) context established between the STA MLD and the AP MLD.

[0221] In some implementations, a designated secondary communication link can be removed from the ML context by transmitting an action frame to the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. This action frame includes a request to update the ML context by removing the designated secondary communication link. In some instances, the action frame may be an ML setup update action frame. In some other instances, the action frame may further include an element that includes one or more updates to the Traffic Identifier (TID) mapping associated with the ML context. In some instances, one or more updates to the Traffic Identifier (TID) mapping may include remapping the TID from the designated secondary communication link to one or more of the first communication link or other non-designated secondary communication links among the one or more secondary communication links.

[0222] In some other implementations, the designated secondary communication link can be removed from the ML context by sending an action frame to the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. This action frame includes a request to disable the designated secondary communication link. In some other implementations, removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context does not require deassociating it with the first AP of the AP MLD. In some instances, removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context does not require dismantling the ML context.

[0223] In some implementations, a specified secondary communication link can be removed from the ML context by remapping the Traffic Identifier (TID) from the specified secondary communication link to one or more of the first communication link or other unspecified secondary communication links of the one or more secondary communication links. In some other implementations, a specified secondary communication link can be removed from the ML context by keeping the STAMLD in a dormant or sleepy state on the specified secondary communication link.

[0224] Figure 14A The diagram shows a timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication 1400 according to some implementations. Figure 14A In the example, ML communication can be performed between a first wireless communication device (“first device D1”) and a second wireless communication device (“second device D2”). Each of devices D1 and D2 can be any suitable wireless communication device, such as those described above. Figure 1 and Figure 6B The STA 104 and 604 described above, or the above respectively refer to Figure 1 and Figure 6A One of the described APs 102 and 602. In timing diagram 1400, the first device D1 can be a transmitting device, and the second device D2 can be a receiving device. Each of the first device D1 and the second device D2 can be an MLD. For example, the first device D1 can be an AP MLD, and the second device D2 can be a STA MLD.

[0225] At time t1, the first device D1 transmits a first packet 1401 on a first communication link (not shown for simplicity), the first packet 1401 including ML information (such as capabilities and parameters) about at least the first and second communication links (not shown for simplicity). Although Figure 14AThe example is described in the form of first and second communication links, but in some implementations, any number of additional communication links, such as third, fourth, or fifth communication links, may exist. The first and second communication links may operate on different frequency bands or on different channels within the same frequency band. For example, the first communication link may operate on the 2.4 GHz band, the second communication link may operate on the 5 GHz band, and another link (not shown for simplicity) may operate on the 6 GHz band. The first packet 1401 may be a beacon frame or any other frame that can be used to convey ML information.

[0226] In some implementations, ML information may include one or more of the following: a first operation class of the first communication link; a first radio channel of the first communication link; a first BSSID of the first communication link; a second operation class of the second communication link; a second radio channel of the second communication link; or a second BSSID of the second communication link. In some implementations, some or all of the ML information may be included in the link attribute element of the first group 1401 (as shown in reference). Figure 14B and Figure 15 (further described), or included in the multi-link element of the first group 1401 (as described in reference). Figure 14B , Figure 15 and Figures 16A-16C (Further description follows). In some respects, at least one of these operation classes, radio channels, or BSSIDs may be different. As a non-limiting example, a pair of AP entities with the same operation class may communicate on the same radio channel. However, the pair of APs may be physically separated (not coexisting) and may thus have different MAC addresses (BSSIDs).

[0227] Between time t1 and t2, the second device D2 receives the first packet 1401 from the first device D1 on the first communication link. In some implementations, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may establish at least one ML communication parameter for communication on the first and second communication links, as shown in reference... Figure 14B Further description. In short, because the first packet 1401 includes ML information (such as ML capabilities, ML operating parameters and constraints, and other information) about all links on which the first device D1 is operating, aspects of this disclosure enable the STA MLD (such as the second device D2) to discover the AP MLD (such as the first device D1) on any link on which the AP MLD has established a BSS.

[0228] At time t3, the second device D2 transmits an MLA request 1411 on the first communication link, at least in part, based on this ML information. The MLA request 1411 may be an association request frame. In some implementations, the MLA request 1411 may include a preference for designating one or more of the first or second communication links as the anchor link, as shown in reference... Figure 14B and Figure 15 Further described. In some respects, when there is no other active traffic, client devices (such as the second device D2) can conserve power by waiting on the anchor link (e.g., waiting for a beacon).

[0229] Between time t3 and t4, the first device D1 receives an MLA request 1411 from the second device D2 on the first communication link. In some respects, the MLA request 1411 may indicate one or more capability or security parameters of the second device D2.

[0230] At time t4, the first device D1 transmits a second packet 1402 on the first communication link. This second packet 1402 includes ML information regarding at least the first and second communication links. In some implementations, the second packet 1402 may be an association response frame. In some other implementations, the second packet 1402 may be some other suitable frame. In some aspects, the second packet 1402 may confirm or renegotiate one or more capabilities of the second device D2 for association on multiple links. Thus, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can establish a shared security context applicable to multiple links. For example, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can establish a single encryption key applicable to each of the first and second communication links.

[0231] In some implementations, the first device D1 may assign a different AID to each link. For example, in the second packet 1402, the first device D1 may indicate an AID of 25 for the first communication link and an AID of 26 for the second communication link. In some other implementations, the first device D1 may assign a shared AID across all links.

[0232] Between times t4 and t5, the second device D2 receives the second packet 1402 from the first device D1 on the first communication link. Subsequently, at time t6, the first device D1 associates with the second device D2 at least in part based on the ML information in the second packet 1402. In some implementations, between times t6 and t7, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may establish a BA session for at least one TID. Finally, at time t7, the first device D1 may communicate with the second device D2 on either the first or second communication link based on its association with the second wireless communication device on the first communication link.

[0233] By exchanging the ML information included in the first packet 1401, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can implement aspects of this disclosure to provide faster discovery of links available for communication between the first device D1 and the second device D2. Furthermore, by exchanging the ML information included in the second packet 1422 or the MLA request 1431, the first device D1 or the second device D2 can also implement aspects of this disclosure to provide faster switching between links and more efficient communication on these links. For example, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can switch from communicating on a first communication link to communicating on a second communication link without deassociating or reassociating, thereby saving time and resources. Specifically, the second device D2 can (as in the first packet 1401) receive ML information about the first communication link, the second communication link, or any link on which the first device D1 has established a BSS. Thus, aspects of this disclosure enable the second device D2 to discover the first device D1 on any link on which the first device D1 has established a BSS.

[0234] Figure 14B A timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication 1420 according to some implementations is shown. Figure 14B In the example, communication can be exchanged between a first wireless communication device (“first device D1”) and a second wireless communication device (“second device D2”). Each of devices D1 and D2 can be any suitable wireless communication device, such as those described above. Figure 1 and Figure 6B The STA 104 and 604 described above, or the above respectively refer to Figure 1 and Figure 6A One of the described APs 102 and 602. In timing diagram 1420, the first device D1 can be a transmitting device, and the second device D2 can be a receiving device. Each of devices D1 and D2 can be an MLD. In some implementations, multi-link communication 1420 can be... Figure 14A A more detailed example of multi-link communication 1400 is shown below.

[0235] At time t1, the first device D1 transmits the first packet 1421 on the first communication link (not shown for simplicity). See reference... Figure 14A As described, the first packet 1421 may include ML information for at least a first communication link and a second communication link (not shown for simplicity). Although Figure 14BThe example is described in the form of first and second communication links, but in some implementations, any number of additional communication links, such as third, fourth, or fifth communication links, may exist. For example, the first packet 1421 can uniquely identify each link based on a finite set of information (tuples). In some implementations, the tuples may include {operating class, channel, and BSSID}, which can be indicated in fields of the first packet 1421 (such as a 6-octet field), where operating class indicates the operation class of the link, channel indicates the channel of the link, and BSSID indicates the BSSID of the link. Example operation class could be one of 2.4 GHz spectrum, 5 GHz spectrum, or 6 GHz spectrum.

[0236] exist Figure 14B In the example, the first group 1421 is shown to include a link attribute element. "Link attribute element" is an example name, and in some implementations, the link attribute element may have any other name. The link attribute element may include certain ML information about one or more links. In some instances, the link attribute element may include discovery information such as the first operation class of the first communication link, the first radio channel, and the first BSSID.

[0237] In this example, the link attribute element also includes an anchor field. The anchor field can indicate that the first communication link is an anchor link. For example, if the anchor bit is set to 1 or some other appropriate value in the profile of the first communication link in the link attribute element, then the first communication link can be an anchor link. Additionally or alternatively, the anchor field can indicate that the first communication link is not an anchor link. For example, if the anchor bit is set to 0 or some other appropriate value in the profile of the first communication link in the link attribute element, then the first communication link may not be an anchor link. In some other implementations, setting the anchor bit of the anchor field to 0 can indicate that the first device D1 has not yet specified an anchor link.

[0238] Group 1421 is also shown to include a multi-link element (MLE). "Multi-link element" is an example name, and in some implementations, the MLE may have any other name. The MLE may include certain ML information about one or more links other than the first or first communication link. As an example, the MLE may include ML information about one or more secondary communication links (such as a second communication link and a third communication link). For the purposes of discussion, the first communication link may be referred to as the "first communication link," and each of the one or more other links (such as the second communication link) may be referred to as a "secondary communication link." The MLE may include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of which may include ML information that varies depending on the different secondary communication links. As an example, one of the per-link profile elements may include a second operating class, a second radio channel, and a second BSSID for the second communication link. In some implementations, the per-link profile element of the second communication link may indicate one or more link attributes that differ between the first and second communication links. Figure 15 and Figures 16A-16C An example implementation of MLE is shown.

[0239] Between time t1 and t2, the second device D2 receives the first packet 1421 from the first device D1 on the first communication link. In some implementations, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may establish at least one ML communication parameter for communicating on the first communication link based on information included in the link attribute element. Some example ML communication parameters may include, but are not limited to: bandwidth, high throughput (HT) capability, very high throughput (VHT) capability, high efficiency (HE) capability, or extremely high throughput (EHT) capability. In some implementations, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may establish at least one ML communication parameter for communicating on different communication links based on information included in the MLE. For example, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may establish at least one ML communication parameter for communicating on the second communication link based on information in the corresponding per-link profile sub-element included in the MLE for the second communication link. In some aspects, at least one of these ML communication parameters may be the same for each of the first and second communication links.

[0240] At time t3, the second device D2 transmits an MLA request 1431 on the first communication link, at least in part, based on the ML information included in the first packet 1421. In some implementations, such as when the anchor field of the first packet 1421 has not yet specified an anchor link, the MLA request 1431 may indicate a preference for designating one or more of the first or second communication links as the anchor link. For example, the second device D2 may indicate its preference for an anchor link by setting the anchor bit to 1 for a preferred anchor link in the MLA request 1431. In some aspects, the second device D2 may indicate more than one preferred anchor link by setting the anchor bit to 1 for each preferred anchor link in the MLA request 1431.

[0241] Between time t3 and t4, the first device D1 receives MLA request 1431 from the second device D2 on the first communication link.

[0242] At time t4, the first device D1 transmits a second packet 1422 on the first communication link. This second packet 1422 includes ML information about at least the first and second communication links. In some implementations, if the second device D2 indicates a preference for an anchor link in the MLA request 1431, the first device D1 can indicate the assigned anchor link for the second device D2 by setting the anchor bit to 1 (or some other suitable value) for one of the links in the second packet 1422. In some aspects, even if the second device D2 can indicate a preference for designating a particular link as an anchor link, the first device D1 can designate one or more different links as anchor links.

[0243] Between times t4 and t5, the second device D2 receives the second packet 1422 from the first device D1 on the first communication link. Using the ML information in the second packet 1402, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can subsequently be associated, for example, between times t5 and t6. In some implementations, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can be associated by establishing a shared security context between a first MAC-SAP endpoint of the first wireless communication device and a second MAC-SAP endpoint of the second wireless communication device. In some aspects, each of the first and second MAC-SAP endpoints can be used to communicate on both the first and second communication links. In some aspects, the shared security context may include a single encryption key shared by the first and second MAC-SAP endpoints.

[0244] Between time t6 and t7, the first device D1 and the second device D2 may jointly establish a shared BA session for one or more TIDs. Thus, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can map the MSDU of the one or more TIDs to one or more of the first and second communication links. By establishing a shared BA session and mapping one or more TIDs, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can implement aspects of this disclosure to map (or remap, associate, or re-associate) the one or more TIDs to multiple links without tearing down the shared BA session or establishing a new BA session. Subsequently, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can communicate on the first or second communication link according to their respective mapped TIDs. In some implementations, the BA session can be established during the "MLA setup" period between time t3 and t6.

[0245] After time t7, one or more link conditions (such as latency) may change, causing the first device D1 to remap one or more of these TIDs to one or more different links. As a non-limiting example, between times t6 and t7, the first device D1 may have initially mapped the first TID (e.g., TID = 4) to the first communication link. Therefore, the first device D1 and the second device D2 can exchange packets with TID = 4 on the first communication link before time t6 / TID = 47. After time t7, the first device D1 can remap TID = 4 to the second communication link. In some implementations, the first device D1 may indicate the remapping of TID = 4 to the second device D2 in a third packet 1423. In some aspects, the first device D1 may indicate the remapping of TID = 4 in the ADDBA capability field of the third packet 1423. In some implementations, the first device D1 may transmit one or more additional packets between times t7 and t8, as per the instructions of the first device D1. N Grouping instructions.

[0246] Between times t7 and t8, the first device D1 can remap one or more TIDs from one communication link to another. The first device D1 can indicate this remapping to the second device D2 in a third packet 1423. For example, the first device D1 can remap a first TID (such as TID=4) from the first communication link to the second communication link and indicate this remapping in the third packet 1423. Upon receiving the third packet 1423, the second device D2 can switch from sending packets with TID=4 on the first communication link to sending packets with TID=4 on the second communication link. Since the second device D2 has already received information about each of the first and second communication links from either the first packet 1421 or the second packet 1422, the second device D2 can switch from communicating for TID=4 on the first communication link to communicating for TID=4 on the second communication link without unassociating or reassociating with the first device D1, thus saving time and resources.

[0247] As another non-limiting example, first device D1 and second device D2 can jointly establish a shared BA session. In some implementations, first device D1 can indicate that one or more of the communication links are active or enabled (available for communication) or that one or more of the communication links are inactive or disabled (unavailable for communication). In this example, first device D1 can indicate that each of the first and second communication links is active and the third communication link is inactive. For example, when establishing a shared BA session, first device D1 can set a first bit corresponding to the first communication link to 1, a second bit corresponding to the second communication link to 1, and a third bit corresponding to the third communication link to 0. Thus, the shared BA session can map TID=4 to the first and second communication links, but not to the third communication link. Subsequently, the status of one or more of the links may change. For example, interference to the third communication link may decrease, and interference to the second communication link may increase. Thus, in this example, first device D1 can transmit a single signal (such as a third packet 1423) to dynamically remap TID=4 to the first and third communication links. For example, the third data packet 1423 can indicate that the first bit is set to 1, the second bit is set to 0, and the third bit is set to 1. Since the second device D2 has received information about each communication link and established a shared BA session with the first device D1, the second device D2 can dynamically switch from communication for TID=4 on the first and second communication links to communication for TID=4 on both the first and third communication links without unassociating or reassociating with the first device D1, and without transmitting additional communication to the first device D1, thereby saving time and resources.

[0248] Additionally or alternatively, the first device D1 may use the third packet 1423 to dynamically map one or more other TIDs to any subset of these communication links. As a non-limiting example, the third packet 1423 may dynamically map TID=2 to the third communication link, TID=5 to the first and second communication links, TID=3 to the fourth communication link, and TID=6 to all the first, second, third, and fourth communication links. Additionally or alternatively, the client device may indicate to the first device D1 that it is capable of operating on a single link, even if more than one link is enabled. For example, the second device D2 may have an antenna and thus be capable of operating on a single link. In this example, the first device D1 may dynamically map each TID to a single communication link used for communicating with the second device D2.

[0249] Figure 15 An example frame 1500 is shown, including a link attribute element 1510 and a multi-link element (MLE) 1520 for communication between wireless communication devices. Frame 1500 can be a beacon frame, an associated frame, or some other suitable frame. In some respects, frame 1500 can be a reference frame. Figure 14A The example implementations of the first group 1401, MLA request 1411, or second group 1402 described herein, or refer to Figure 14B Example implementations of the first packet 1421, MLA request 1431, second data packet 1422, or third data packet 1423 described herein. In some implementations, frame 1500 may be transmitted by a first device D1 and received by a second device D2, or vice versa. For ease of interpretation, some information elements of frame 1500 may also be referred to as “field,” “subfield,” “element,” or “subelement,” and these terms are considered interchangeable for the purposes of this discussion. In some implementations, information elements of frame 1500 may be referred to using any other appropriate terminology.

[0250] Link attribute element 1510 may include information about the reference. Figure 14A and Figure 14B The description includes information about the first communication link. In some implementations, the link attribute element 1510 may include discovery information for the first communication link used for MLD. In some other implementations, the link attribute element 1510 may include discovery information for one or more secondary communication links used for MLD.

[0251] Link attribute element 1510 is shown to include multiple fields, including: element ID field 1551, length field 1552, element ID extension field 1553, control field 1554, operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, timing synchronization function (TSF) offset field 1558, and beacon interval field 1559. In some implementations, element ID field 1551 may be an octet length and include an identifier for link attribute element 1510. In some aspects, link attribute element 1510 may facilitate the establishment of a shared BA session between first device D1 and second device D2, as shown in reference... Figure 14B As described. In some implementations, the length field 1552 can be a single octet and indicates the length of the link attribute element 1510. In some implementations, the element ID extension field 1553 can be a single octet. In some implementations, the operation class field 1555 can be either zero or one octet and indicates the operation class of the first communication link. In some implementations, the channel number field 1556 can be either zero or one octet and indicates the channel number of the first communication link.

[0252] In some implementations, the BSSID field 1557 can be 0 or 6 octets long and indicates the BSSID associated with the first communication link. In some implementations, the TSF offset field 1558 can be 0 or 2 octets long and indicates the TSF offset timing value of packets transmitted on the first communication link. In some aspects, a value of 0 in the TSF offset field 1558 and the beacon interval field 1559 can indicate that the first device D1 will not transmit beacons on the first communication link. In some implementations, the beacon interval field 1559 can be 0 or 2 octets long and indicates the beacon interval of beacons transmitted on the first communication link. In some aspects, values ​​in the TSF offset field 1558 or the beacon interval field 1559 can facilitate faster link handover for certain types of non-AP entities, such as STA MLDs with a single radio. In some implementations, the first device D1 can indicate that it will not transmit beacons on one or more links. For example, the first device D1 may indicate that it can communicate on the second communication link and that the second communication link is dedicated to a data-only channel. In this way, the first device D1 may indicate that the second device D2 can utilize the second communication link, but the first device D1 will not broadcast beacons on the second communication link.

[0253] In some implementations, control field 1554 may be an octet length (8 bits) and include multiple sub-elements, or "subfields," "fields," or "control information." These sub-elements may include link ID sub-element 1561 (bits 1 and 2), active link sub-element 1562 (bit 3), independent MLA bitmap sub-element 1563 (bits 4-7), and anchor sub-element 1564 (bit 8). In some implementations, link ID sub-element 1561 may include a unique identifier for the first communication link. In some aspects, the first device D1 may assign a unique identifier. In some implementations, control field 1554 may not include link ID sub-element 1561, or link ID sub-element 1561 may be included in some other part of frame 1500. In some implementations, active link sub-element 1562 may indicate whether the first communication link is currently enabled. As a non-limiting example, the first device D1 may indicate that it is capable of operating on one or more links, and the first device D1 may provide a channel number and BSSID for each of the one or more links. In some implementations, the active link sub-element 1562 may indicate one or more links on which the first device D1 is not operating. As an example, the first device D1 may indicate that a particular link is disabled so that certain types of devices (such as non-EHT devices) will not attempt to communicate on that particular link.

[0254] In some aspects, this bit of the active link sub-element 1562 may be reserved for the first communication link. In some implementations, the independent MLA bit mapping sub-element 1563 may be a bit mapping indicating a specific (second) link with which the first communication link can perform independent multi-link association (MLA). In some aspects, the bit position of the independent MLA bit mapping sub-element 1563 may correspond to the value of the link ID sub-element 1561. In some aspects, this bit mapping may be a two-bit link identifier capable of indicating up to four combinations of 0–3. For example, if the second bit for the second communication link is turned on (set to 1), the first communication link may be able to operate independently of the second communication link.

[0255] In some implementations, anchor element 1564 may indicate whether the first communication link is designated as the anchor link. In some aspects, for secondary links, if active link sub-element 1562 is set to 0 for a particular link, anchor element 1564 may be reserved, and that particular link may not be used as an anchor link.

[0256] for Figure 15For example, link attribute element 1510 includes fields 1551-1559. In some implementations, link attribute element 1510 may not include one or more of fields 1551-1559 or sub-elements 1561-1564. In some implementations, link attribute element 1510 may include one or more different information elements. As a non-limiting example, link attribute element 1510 may not include any of the operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, TSF offset field 1558, or beacon interval field 1559. As another non-limiting example, link attribute element 1510 may include each of the operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, TSF offset field 1558, and beacon interval field 1559.

[0257] MLE 1520 is also shown as including a common attribute sub-element 1525 and one or more per-link profile sub-elements 1530(1)–1530(n). The common attribute sub-element 1525 may include attributes common to each of one or more communication links associated with the MLD (such as first device D1 and second device D2). In some instances, each of the per-link profile sub-elements 1530(1)–1530(n) may include a value for the latest critical update of the corresponding sub-AP of the AP MLD. In other instances, each of the per-link profile sub-elements 1530(1)–1530(n) may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the corresponding sub-AP of the AP MLD. In some other implementations (not shown for simplicity), each of the per-link profile sub-elements 1530(1)–1530(n) may include each of the operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, TSF offset field 1558, and beacon interval field 1559, as shown in reference Figure 11 Further description. And in some other implementations (not shown for simplicity), each of the chain per-path profile elements 1530(1)–1530(n) may exclude any of the operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, TSF offset field 1558, or beacon interval field 1559.

[0258] Figure 16A An example MLE 1600, which can be used for communication between wireless communication devices, is shown. In some aspects, the MLE 1600 can be a reference. Figure 15The example implementation of the described MLE 1520. In some implementations, the MLE 1520 may be included in frames (such as frame 1500, beacon frame, association request frame, association response frame, or any other appropriate frame) transmitted by a first device D1 and received by a second device D2 (or vice versa). For ease of interpretation, some information elements of the MLE 1600 may be referred to as “field,” “subfield,” “element,” or “subelement,” and these terms are considered interchangeable for the purposes of this discussion. In some implementations, information elements of the MLE 1600 may be referred to using any other appropriate terminology.

[0259] The MLE 1600 is shown to include multiple fields, including: an element ID field 1601, a length field 1602, an element ID extension field 1603, a common parameter field 1604, and one or more optional sub-element fields 1605. In some implementations, the element ID field 1601 may be an octet length and includes an identifier for the MLE 1600. In some implementations, the length field 1602 may be an octet length and indicates the length of the MLE 1600. In some implementations, the element ID extension field 1603 may be an octet length. In some implementations, the common parameter field 1604 may be an octet length and includes common information about each of several secondary communication links. Although only one optional sub-element field 1605 is shown for simplicity, the MLE 1600 may include any suitable number of optional sub-element fields 1605.

[0260] In some implementations, each of the optional sub-element fields 1605 may correspond to one of the secondary communication links and may include ML information (or "ML attributes") about the corresponding secondary communication link that is different from the first communication link. To save bits, in some respects, it may be assumed that ML attributes not included in the corresponding MLE 1600 are inherited from the first communication link. As a non-limiting example, link attribute elements (such as...) Figure 15 The link attribute element 1510 may include beacon intervals for the first communication link, and the optional sub-element field 1605 corresponding to the secondary communication link may not include beacon intervals for the secondary communication link. In this example, the beacon intervals for the secondary communication link may be inherited from the beacon intervals for the first communication link included in the link attribute element 1510. In this way, one or more information elements in the optional sub-element field 1605 corresponding to the secondary communication link may be excluded or may include different information. In some other implementations, the MLE 1600 may include a single optional sub-element field 1605, which includes all or a subset of ML information about the secondary communication link.

[0261] The optional sub-element field 1605 is shown to include multiple fields, including: sub-element ID=0 field 1611, length field 1612, and data field 1613. In some implementations, the sub-element ID=0 field 1611 can be an octet length and includes an identifier corresponding to the optional sub-element field 1605 (such as a value from 0-255). In some aspects, values ​​1-255 may be reserved.

[0262] In some implementations, the length field 1612 can be an octet length and indicates the length of the corresponding optional sub-element field 1605. In some implementations, the data field 1613 can be of variable length and may include ML information about the corresponding sub-communication link. In some implementations, the data field 1613 can be a reference... Figure 15 An example implementation of one of the described per-link profile sub-elements 1530(1)–1530(n).

[0263] Figure 16B An example data field 1620 is shown that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices. Data field 1620 can be... Figure 16A An example implementation of data field 1613 is shown, and is illustrated to include multiple fields, including element ID field 1621, length field 1622, element ID extension field 1623, control field 1624, operation class field 1625, channel number field 1626, BSSID field 1627, TSF offset field 1628, and beacon interval field 1629, which can be respectively compared with reference to... Figure 15 The described element ID field 1551, length field 1552, element ID extension field 1553, control field 1554, operation class field 1555, channel number field 1556, BSSID field 1557, TSF offset field 1058, and beacon interval field 1559 are the same or similar.

[0264] In some implementations, the control field 1624 can be an octet length (8 bits) and includes multiple sub-elements, including: link ID sub-element 1641 (bits 1 and 2), active link sub-element 1642 (bit 3), independent MLA bitmap sub-element 1643 (bits 4-7), and anchor sub-element 1644 (bit 8), which can be associated with references respectively. Figure 15 The described link ID sub-element 1561, active link sub-element 1562, independent MLA bit mapping sub-element 1563, and anchor element 1564 are the same or similar, except that they include information about the corresponding secondary communication link instead of the first communication link.

[0265] In some implementations, one or more information elements can be combined, added, moved (to one or more other information elements), removed, or otherwise modified for MLE 1600. Furthermore, the names shown for the information elements associated with MLE 1600 are example names, and in some implementations, one or more of information elements 1601-1644 may have different names.

[0266] Figure 16C An example data field 1630 is shown that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices. In some implementations, data field 1630 can be... Figure 16A An example implementation of data field 1613 of optional sub-element field 1605. Data field 1630 is shown as including element ID field 1631, length field 1632, and element ID extension field 1633. Element ID field 1631, length field 1632, and element ID extension field 1633 may be the same as or similar to element ID field 1601, length field 1602, and element ID extension field 1603, respectively, except that element ID field 1631, length field 1632, and element ID extension field 1633 may include information about the corresponding sub-communication link, rather than MLE 1600. In some aspects, element ID extension field 1633 may be 0 octets or 1 octet long. Data field 1634 may have a variable length and may indicate HT capability, VHT capability, HE capability, EHT capability, MLD capability, and other capabilities.

[0267] Figure 17A A sequence diagram depicting example multi-link (ML) communication 1700 according to some implementations is shown. Figure 17A In the example, ML communication 1700 can be performed between the STA of the STA MLD and the AP MLD, which includes a first AP (AP1) and a second AP (AP2). AP1 can be associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD, and AP2 can be associated with the secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some implementations, AP1 and AP2 can be respectively referenced to... Figure 1 and Figure 6A In the example implementation of one of AP 102 and AP 602 described above, and the STA can be respectively referenced Figure 1 and Figure 6A An example implementation of one of the STA 104 and STA 604 described above.

[0268] AP1 generates a frame that includes one or more operating parameters for a first communication link, a first change sequence number (CSN) or value indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the first communication link with respect to the AP MLD, and one or more secondary CSNs or values, each indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for a corresponding secondary communication link with respect to the AP MLD. In some instances, the first CSN or value may be carried in the first change sequence field of the frame, and one or more secondary CSNs may be carried in one or more corresponding secondary change sequence fields of the frame. In one implementation, a critical update flag or CSN change indicator may be carried in the critical update flag subfield of the frame. AP1 transmits this frame to the STA on the first communication link. In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame that includes a first change sequence field carrying the first CSN, one or more secondary change sequence fields including secondary CSNs, one or more per-link profile sub-elements including one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link. Transmission of such beacon frames can reduce the STA's power consumption (e.g., because the STA does not need to monitor the corresponding secondary communication link), can reduce frame switching overhead, and can increase the size of the beacon frame.

[0269] The STA receives the frame and obtains the operating parameters for the first communication link, the CSN or value for the first communication link, and the CSN or value for the secondary communication link. In this way, the STA can determine the current operating parameters and whether there are any critical updates regarding the first AP and the associated first communication link, and can also determine whether there are any critical update links regarding the secondary AP and the associated secondary communication link without monitoring the secondary communication link.

[0270] AP1 receives notifications from AP2 regarding critical updates to the secondary communication link and associated secondary APs. AP1 increments the secondary CSN or value corresponding to the secondary communication link and associated secondary APs, and transmits a frame to the STA on the first communication link. In some implementations, this frame may include the updated CSN or value for the secondary communication link and associated secondary APs. In some other implementations, this frame may include a complete set of operating parameters for the secondary communication link and associated secondary APs. In some other implementations, this frame may include a complete set of operating parameters for each secondary communication link associated with the corresponding secondary AP of AP MLD.

[0271] The STA can transmit a probe request frame to AP1 on the first communication link. In some implementations, the probe request frame may include the latest received CSN or value regarding the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP.

[0272] AP1 can identify the CSNs (Content Special Numbers) that the STA missed (or otherwise failed to decode correctly) regarding the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP. AP1 can transmit a response frame to the STA on the first communication link. In some implementations, the response frame carries the CSNs(s) that the STA missed regarding the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP. In some other implementations, the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP for which one or more operating parameters have been updated. In some still implementations, the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for each secondary communication link associated with the corresponding secondary AP of AP MLD.

[0273] In some implementations, the response frame may be a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates about the specified secondary communication link that the STA missed. In other implementations, the response frame may be a broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for each secondary communication link associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. Transmitting a broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for all secondary communication links can reduce STA power consumption (e.g., because the STA does not need to monitor any of the secondary communication links), can reduce frame switching overhead, and may increase the size of the broadcast probe response frame.

[0274] Alternatively, AP1 may transmit a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame to STA on the first communication link. This spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP. Transmitting a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the secondary communication link and the associated secondary AP can reduce the STA's power consumption (e.g., because the STA does not need to monitor the secondary communication link), can reduce frame switching overhead, and may increase the size of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame (but not as much as the aforementioned broadcast probe response frame).

[0275] Figure 17B A sequence diagram depicting another example of multi-link communication 1710 according to some implementations is shown. Figure 17B In the example, ML communication 1710 can be performed between the STA of the STA MLD and the AP MLD, which includes a first AP (AP1) and a second AP (AP2). AP1 can be associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD, and AP2 can be associated with the secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some implementations, AP1 and AP2 can be respectively referenced to... Figure 1 and Figure 6A In the example implementation of one of AP 102 and AP 602 described above, and the STA can be respectively referenced Figure 1 and Figure 6AAn example implementation of one of the STA 104 and STA 604 described above.

[0276] AP1 generates a frame (which includes one or more operating parameters for the first communication link, a first change sequence number (CSN) or value indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the first communication link with respect to the AP MLD, and one or more secondary CSNs or values, each indicating the presence or absence of a critical update for the corresponding secondary communication link with respect to the AP MLD), and transmits the frame to the STA on the first communication link. In some implementations, the frame may be a beacon frame carrying the first CSN in the first change sequence field, the secondary CSN in the corresponding secondary change sequence field, one or more operating parameters for the first communication link in the MLE, and the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the corresponding per-link profile sub-element. Transmitting such a beacon frame can reduce the STA's power consumption (e.g., because the STA does not need to monitor the corresponding secondary communication link), reduce frame switching overhead, and increase the size of the beacon frame.

[0277] The STA receives the frame and obtains the operating parameters for the first communication link, the CSN or value for the first communication link, and the CSN or value for the secondary communication link. In this way, the STA can determine the current operating parameters and whether there are any critical updates regarding the first communication link, and can also determine whether there are any critical update links regarding the secondary communication link without monitoring the secondary communication link.

[0278] AP1 receives a Do Not Transmit (DNT) indication for the secondary communication link from AP2. AP1 asserts the DNT indication for the secondary communication link and transmits a frame on the first communication link. This frame (which may be a unicast frame, a broadcast frame, or a spontaneous probe response frame) includes the asserted DNT indication for the secondary communication link. In some implementations, the DNT indication may be based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the secondary communication link, a silence time announcement for the secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the secondary communication link in the AP MLD, and may indicate whether the wireless communication devices wish to suppress transmission on the secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In some instances, at least some of the wireless communication devices may monitor the first communication link without monitoring the secondary communication link to look for the DNT indication.

[0279] In some implementations, the frame can be a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates about the specified secondary communication link that the STA missed. Transmitting such a unicast probe response frame may result in the minimum size of the unicast probe response frame and may increase frame switching overhead (e.g., because additional frames may be needed to carry operational parameters for the specified secondary communication link). In some other implementations, the frame can be a broadcast probe response frame carrying the complete set of operational parameters for the specified secondary communication link. Transmitting such a broadcast probe response frame can increase the frame size and reduce frame switching overhead. In some other implementations, the frame can be a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying the complete set of operational parameters for all secondary communication links. Transmitting such a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame can increase the frame size and further reduce frame switching overhead (e.g., compared to the aforementioned broadcast probe response frames).

[0280] In this way, the STA can determine the existence of a DNT condition on the secondary communication link and suppress transmissions on the secondary communication link without monitoring it. Thus, the STA can receive information about the DNT condition on the secondary communication link without consuming the power associated with performing a scan operation on the secondary communication link. The STA can then communicate with AP1 on the first communication link.

[0281] Figure 18 A timing diagram depicting example multi-link communication 1800 according to some implementations is shown. Figure 18 In the example, ML communication 1800 can be performed between the STA MLD and the AP MLD. The AP MLD is shown as including a first AP (AP1) associated with a first communication link (link 1) of the AP MLD, and a second AP (AP2) associated with a secondary communication link (link 2) of the AP MLD. The STA MLD is shown as including a first station (STA1) and a second station (STA2). For Figure 18 In this example, STA1 is associated with the first communication link (link 1), while STA2 is associated with the secondary communication link (link 2). In some implementations, AP1 and AP2 can be respectively referenced... Figure 1 and Figure 6A In the example implementation of one of AP 102 and AP 602 described above, and STA1 and STA2 can be respectively referenced Figure 1 and Figure 6A An example implementation of one of the STA 104 and STA 604 described above.

[0282] Initially, the CSN of AP1 starts at 25, and the CSN of AP2 starts at 45. For Figure 18For example, STA1 remains dozing on link 1. At time t0, AP1 sends a beacon frame on link 1, indicating CSN=25 for link 1. The beacon frame also includes an MLE indicating CSN=45 and DNT=0 for link 2. Neither STA1 nor STA2 receives the beacon frame from AP1.

[0283] At time t1, AP2 sends a beacon frame on link 2, indicating CSN=45 for link 2. The beacon frame also includes an MLE indicating CSN=25 and DNT=0 for link 1. STA2 receives the beacon frame, obtains CSN=25 and DNT=0 for link 1, and obtains CSN=45 for link 2. Based on DNT=0, STA2 determines that transmission on link 1 is permitted.

[0284] At time t2, AP1 sends a beacon frame that includes an ECSA IE with mode = 1 and indicates CSN = 26 for link 1. The beacon frame also includes an MLE indicating CSN = 45 and DNT = 0 for AP2. Neither STA1 nor STA2 receives the beacon frame from AP1.

[0285] At time t3 (which is after TBTT from time t1), AP2 sends a beacon frame on link 2, indicating CSN=45 for link 2. The beacon frame also includes an MLE indicating CSN=26 and DNT=1 for link 1. STA2 receives the beacon frame, obtaining CSN=26 and DNT=1 for link 1, and CSN=45 for link 2. Based on DNT=1, STA2 suppresses transmission on link 1. In some implementations, the beacon frame transmitted at time t3 may instruct AP2 to transmit a probe response frame including a critical update about link 1.

[0286] At time t4, STA2 sends a probe request frame to AP2 on link 2. The probe request frame includes the last CSN received by STA for link 1, which is CSN=25 (indicating that STA2 missed a critical update on link 1).

[0287] At time t5, AP2 sends a probe response frame on link 2. This probe response frame includes an MLE indicating the ECSA for link 1 with mode = 1. In some implementations, the probe response frame may be a broadcast probe response frame, which includes a complete profile for link 2. STA2 receives the probe response frame, obtains the ECSA for link 1 with mode = 1, and determines that transmission on link 1 is not permitted.

[0288] At time t6, AP1 sends a beacon frame on link 1. This beacon frame indicates CSN=26 for link 1 and includes an MLE indicating CSN=45 for link 2 and DNT=0 for link 2. The beacon frame also indicates ECSA for link 1 with mode=1. Neither STA1 nor STA2 receives the beacon frame from AP1.

[0289] At time t7, AP2 sends a beacon frame on link 2. This beacon frame indicates CSN=45 for link 2 and includes an MLE indicating CSN=26 for link 1 and DNT=1 for link 1. STA2 receives the beacon frame, obtains CSN=26 and DNT=1 for link 1, and obtains CSN=45 for link 2. Based on DNT=1, STA2 suppresses transmission on link 1.

[0290] At time t8, AP1 transmits a beacon frame on the new channel and on link 1. This beacon frame indicates CSN=26 for link 1 and includes an MLE indicating CSN=45 and DNT=0 for link 2. STA2 receives the beacon frame, obtaining CSN=26 and DNT=1 for link 0, and CSN=45 for link 2. Based on DNT=0, STA2 can contend for media access on link 1.

[0291] At time t9, AP2 sends a beacon frame on link 2. This beacon frame indicates CSN=45 for link 2 and includes an MLA element indicating CSN=26 and DNT=0 for link 1. STA2 receives the beacon frame, obtains CSN=26 and DNT=1 for link 0, and obtains CSN=45 for link 2. Based on DNT=1, STA2 suppresses transmission on link 1.

[0292] for Figure 18 In the example, the DNT for Link 1 is asserted at time t2 based on ECSA on L1. In other implementations, the DNT for Link 1 may be asserted for other reasons or conditions, including (but not limited to) other critical updates to Link 1, operational radar signals, unavailability of AP1, or some other error associated with AP1 or Link 1.

[0293] Figure 19 An example MLE 1900, which can be used for communication between wireless communication devices, is shown. In some aspects, the MLE 1900 can be a reference. Figure 15The example implementation of the described MLE 1520. In some implementations, the MLE 1520 may be included in frames (such as frame 1500, beacon frame, association request frame, association response frame, or any other appropriate frame) transmitted by a first device D1 and received by a second device D2 (or vice versa). For ease of interpretation, some information elements of the MLE 1900 may be referred to as “field,” “subfield,” “element,” or “subelement,” and these terms are considered interchangeable for the purposes of this discussion. In some implementations, information elements of the MLE 1900 may be referred to using any other appropriate terminology.

[0294] The MLE 1900 is shown to include multiple fields, including: an element ID field 1902, a length field 1904, an element ID extension field 1906, a common parameter field 1908, and one or more per-link profile sub-element fields 1910(1)–1910(n). In some implementations, the element ID field 1902 may be an octet length and includes an identifier for the MLE 1900. In some implementations, the length field 1904 may be an octet length and indicates the length of the MLE 1900. In some implementations, the element ID extension field 1906 may be an octet length. In some implementations, the common parameter field 1908 may be an octet length and includes common information about each of several sub-communication links. Each link profile sub-element 1910(1)–1910(n) may have different lengths and may carry (but is not limited to) the CSN for the corresponding sub-communication link, key updates for the corresponding sub-communication link, operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link, a partial profile for the corresponding sub-communication link, a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link, discovery information for the corresponding sub-communication link, and capability information for the corresponding sub-communication link.

[0295] To conserve bits, in some respects, it can be assumed that attributes, capabilities, operating parameters, or other values ​​not included in the corresponding per-link profile sub-element MLE 1910 are inherited from the first communication link. As a non-limiting example, link attribute elements (such as...) Figure 15The link attribute element 1510 may include the CSN for the first communication link, and the per-link profile sub-element field 1910 corresponding to the secondary communication link may not include the CSN for the secondary communication link. In this example, the CSN for the secondary communication link may be inherited from the CSN for the first communication link included in the link attribute element 1510. In this way, one or more of the per-link profile sub-element fields 1910(1)–1910(n) may be excluded or may include different information. In some other implementations, the MLE 1900 may include a single per-link profile sub-element field 1910, which includes all or a subset of information about the secondary communication link.

[0296] In some implementations, data field 1916 may include multiple sub-elements, including: link ID sub-element 1932, key update field 1934, DNT field 1936, and one or more elements 1938(1)–1938(n) carrying any suitable information about the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0297] In some implementations, one or more information elements or fields can be combined, added, moved (to one or more other information elements), removed, or otherwise modified for MLE 1900. Furthermore, the names shown for information elements or fields associated with MLE 1900 are example names, and in some implementations, one or more information elements or fields may have different names.

[0298] Figure 20 An example simplified neighbor report (RNR) element 2000 is shown that can be used for communication between wireless communication devices. RNR element 2000 is shown as including an element ID field 2002, a length field 2004, and one or more neighbor AP information fields 2006 (only one neighbor AP information field is shown for simplicity).

[0299] In some implementations, each neighbor AP information field 2006 includes a TBTT information header 2011, an operation class field 2012, a channel number field 2013, a TBTT information set field 2014, a critical update field 2015, and a DNT field 2016. The update field 2015 may carry an indication of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary communication link, and the DNT field 2016 may carry a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link. In some other implementations, the RNR element 2000 may be extended to include a link ID field, which stores one or more unique link IDs that can be used to map entries in the neighbor AP information field 2006 to information stored in the per-link profile sub-element in the MLE.

[0300] In some implementations, RNR elements can be grouped, added, moved (to one or more other information elements), removed, or otherwise modified. Furthermore, the names shown for the information elements or fields associated with RNR element 2000 are example names, and in some implementations, one or more information elements or fields may have different names.

[0301] Figure 21 A sequence diagram 2100 is shown depicting another example of multi-link communication 2100 according to some implementation. Figure 21 In the example, ML communication 2100 can be performed between the AP MLD and the STA MLD. In some implementations, the AP MLD can be referenced separately. Figure 1 and Figure 6A In the example implementation of one of AP 102 and AP 602 described above, and STA MLD can be respectively referenced Figure 1 and Figure 6A An example implementation of one of the STA 104 and STA 604 described above.

[0302] The AP MLD and STA MLD exchange one or more of discovery information, authentication information, or association information on the first communication link. In some implementations, the first communication link is associated with the first AP of the AP MLD and the first STA of the STA MLD.

[0303] The AP MLD and STA MLD establish a multi-link (ML) context based on one or more of the exchanged discovery, authentication, or association information. In some implementations, the ML context includes identifiers of one or more communication links that can be used for communication between the AP MLD and STA MLD.

[0304] The AP MLD transmits a first frame to the STA MLD on the first communication link. The first frame may include a request to modify the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context. In some implementations, the AP MLD receives the first frame from the STA MLD.

[0305] The AP MLD receives a second frame from the STA MLD on the first communication link. The second frame can respond to the first frame and indicate acceptance, rejection, or modification of the request. In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits the second frame to the STA MLD.

[0306] The AP MLD determines whether the second frame indicates acceptance, rejection, or modification of the request included in the first frame. Based on this determination, the AP MLD selectively modifies the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0307] In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits a third frame to the STA MLD on the first communication link. In some implementations, the third frame includes a request to add at least one additional communication link to the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some implementations, the third frame includes an action frame containing a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one additional communication link. In some implementations, the AP MLD receives the third frame from the STA MLD.

[0308] In some instances, the AP MLD receives a fourth frame from the STA MLD on the first communication link. The fourth frame may respond to the third frame and indicate acceptance or rejection of a request in the third frame. If the fourth frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the third frame, the AP MLD adds at least one additional communication link to the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. If the fourth frame indicates rejection of the request included in the third frame, the AP MLD suppresses the addition of at least one additional communication link to the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits the fourth frame to the STA MLD.

[0309] In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits a fifth frame to the STA MLD on the first communication link. In some implementations, the fifth frame includes a request to remove at least one additional communication link from the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some implementations, the fifth frame includes an action frame containing a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one communication link. In some implementations, the AP MLD receives the fifth frame from the STA MLD.

[0310] In some instances, the AP MLD receives a sixth frame from the STA MLD on the first communication link. The sixth frame may respond to the fifth frame and indicate acceptance or rejection of a request in the fifth frame. If the sixth frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the fifth frame, the AP MLD removes at least one communication link from the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. If the sixth frame indicates rejection of the request included in the fifth frame, the AP MLD suppresses the removal of at least one communication link from the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits the sixth frame to the STA MLD.

[0311] In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits a seventh frame to the STA MLD on the first communication link. In some implementations, the seventh frame includes a request to change at least one of the identified communication links to a new communication link. In some implementations, the seventh frame includes an action frame containing a link identifier that uniquely identifies the new communication link. In some implementations, the APMLD receives the seventh frame from the STA MLD.

[0312] In some instances, the AP MLD receives an eighth frame from the STA MLD on the first communication link. The eighth frame may respond to the seventh frame and indicate acceptance or rejection of the request in the seventh frame. If the eighth frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the seventh frame, the AP MLD changes at least one communication link identified in the ML context to a new communication link. If the eighth frame indicates rejection of the request included in the seventh frame, the AP MLD suppresses the change of at least one communication link identified in the ML context to a new communication link. In some implementations, the AP MLD transmits the eighth frame to the STA MLD.

[0313] Figure 22 The diagram illustrates an example process 2200 for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some implementation. Process 2200 can be implemented by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 2200 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 2200 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described above, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 2200 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0314] In some implementations, process 2200 begins at block 2202 with the exchange of one or more of discovery information, authentication information, or association information between a first AP of the AP MLD and a first STA of the STA MLD on a first communication link, the first communication link being associated with the first AP of the AP MLD and with the first STA of the STA MLD. At block 2204, process 2200 proceeds to establishing a multi-link (ML) context between the AP MLD and the STA MLD based on one or more of the exchanged discovery information, authentication information, or association information, wherein the ML context includes identifiers of one or more communication links that can be used for communication between the AP MLD and the STA MLD. At block 2206, process 2200 proceeds to transmitting or receiving a first frame from the STA MLD via the first communication link, the first frame including a request to modify the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In block 2208, process 2200 proceeds to receive or transmit a second frame to the STA MLD on the first communication link, the second frame responding to the first frame and indicating acceptance, rejection, or modification of the request. In block 2210, process 2200 proceeds to selectively modify the identifier of one or more communication links in the ML context based on the second frame indicating acceptance, rejection, or modification of the request.

[0315] In some implementations, the ML context includes a shared security context between the first Media Access Control Service Access Point (MAC-SAP) endpoint of the AP MLD and the second MAC-SAP endpoint of the STA MLD. In some instances, each of the first and second MAC-SAP endpoints is configured to communicate over a communication link identified by the ML context.

[0316] In some implementations, the first frame is a management frame. In some instances, the management frame is an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame. In some other instances, the management frame is a protected action frame. A protected action frame may indicate one or more of the following: the maximum number of communication links supported by the AP MLD or STA MLD, or the number of currently available communication links associated with the AP MLD. The protected action frame may further include one or more group transient keys (GTKs).

[0317] In some implementations, the protected action frame contains protected ML information, which includes one or more of the following: shared security context, block acceptance (BA) session information, traffic identifier (TID) values ​​and mappings between communication links associated with the AP MLD, operating parameters of the AP MLD or STA MLD, or capability information of the AP MLD or STA MLD. In some instances, the protected ML information is included in one or more fields or information elements (IEs) carried in the protected action frame.

[0318] Figure 23 The diagram illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations. Process 2300 can be initiated by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 2300 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 2300 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described above, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 2300 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (one of the APs 102 and 602) as described is used to perform this function.

[0319] In some implementations, process 2300 begins at block 2302 by sending or receiving a protected action frame to or from the STA MLD, the protected action frame indicating the maximum number of communication links supported by the AP MLD or the STA MLD, or the number of currently available communication links associated with the AP MLD.

[0320] Figure 24 The diagram illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations. Process 2400 can be initiated by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 2400 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 2400 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 2400 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The operation is performed by a wireless communication device that operates or operates within an AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602). In some implementations, operation 2400 may be...Figure 22 Operation 2200, in block 2210, selectively modifies the identifiers of one or more communication links in one implementation. In some other implementations, operation 2400 can... Figure 22 The selective modification of the identifier in operation 2200 box 2210 is executed after that.

[0321] In some implementations, process 2400 begins at block 2402 to determine whether the second frame indicates acceptance or rejection of the request included in the first frame. In some instances, at block 2404, if the second frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the first frame, process 2400 proceeds to add at least one additional communication link to the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context based on the second frame indicating acceptance of the request. In some other instances, at block 2406, if the second frame indicates rejection of the request included in the first frame, process 2400 proceeds to suppress the addition of at least one additional communication link to the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context based on the second frame indicating rejection of the request.

[0322] In some implementations, the first frame includes a request to add at least one additional communication link to the identifier of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some instances, the first frame is an action frame including a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one additional communication link. In some instances, the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the corresponding STA of the STAMLD associated with the at least one additional communication link, or the MAC address of the corresponding AP of the AP MLD associated with the at least one additional communication link. In some implementations, the at least one additional communication link is a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0323] Figure 25 The diagram illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations. Process 2500 can be initiated by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 2500 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 2500 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 2500 can be performed by a wireless communication device acting as an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The operation is performed by a wireless communication device that operates or operates within an AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602). In some implementations, operation 2500 may be...Figure 22 Operation 2200, in block 2210, is an implementation that selectively modifies the identifiers of one or more communication links. In some other implementations, operation 2500 can... Figure 22 The selective modification of the identifier in operation 2200 box 2210 is executed after that.

[0324] In some implementations, process 2500 begins at block 2502 to determine whether the second frame indicates acceptance or rejection of the request included in the first frame. In some instances, at block 2504, if the second frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the first frame, process 2500 proceeds to, based on the second frame indicating acceptance of the request, removing at least one communication link from the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some other instances, at block 2506, if the second frame indicates rejection of the request included in the first frame, process 2500 proceeds to, based on the second frame indicating rejection of the request, suppressing the removal of at least one communication link from the identifiers of one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0325] In some implementations, the first frame includes a request to remove at least one communication link from the identifier of one or more communication links in the ML context. In some instances, the first frame is an action frame including a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one communication link. In some implementations, the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the media access control (MAC) address of the corresponding STA of the STA MLD associated with the at least one communication link, or the MAC address of the corresponding AP of the AP MLD associated with the at least one communication link. In some instances, the at least one communication link is a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0326] Figure 26 The diagram illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication between MLDs, based on some other implementations. Process 2600 can be initiated by a first wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 2600 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The process 2600 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates as one of the STAs 104 and 604 described, or operates within a STA. In other implementations, the process 2600 can be performed by a wireless communication device that acts as an AP (such as those described above, referred to respectively). Figure 1 and Figure 6A Operation 2600 is performed by a wireless communication device that operates or operates within an AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602). In some implementations, operation 2600 may be... Figure 22Operation 2200, in block 2210, is an implementation that selectively modifies the identifiers of one or more communication links. In some other implementations, operation 2600 can... Figure 22 The selective modification of the identifier in operation 2200 box 2210 is executed after that.

[0327] In some implementations, process 2600 begins at block 2602 to determine whether the second frame indicates acceptance or rejection of the request included in the first frame. In some instances, at block 2604, if the second frame indicates acceptance of the request included in the first frame, process 2600 proceeds to change at least one communication link identified in the ML context to a new communication link based on the second frame indicating acceptance of the request. In some other instances, at block 2606, if the second frame indicates rejection of the request included in the first frame, process 2600 proceeds to suppress the change of at least one communication link identified in the ML context based on the second frame indicating rejection of the request.

[0328] In some implementations, the first frame includes a request to change at least one of the identified communication links to a new communication link. In some instances, the first frame is an action frame that includes a link identifier that uniquely identifies the new communication link. In some implementations, the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the corresponding STA of the STA MLD associated with the new communication link, or the MAC address of the corresponding AP of the AP MLD associated with the new communication link. In some instances, the new communication link includes a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0329] Figure 27 The diagram illustrates an example process 2700, illustrating wireless communication used to support indicative key updates regarding the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 2700 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 2700 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 27 For example, process 2700 is performed by an AP MLD that includes a first AP and one or more secondary APs. The first AP may be associated with a first communication link of the AP MLD, and each secondary AP may be associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0330] In block 2702, the first AP of the AP MLD generates a frame including a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field indicates the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the secondary change sequence fields indicates the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In block 2704, the first AP transmits the frame on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame may be a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, or a Fast Initial Link Establishment (FILS) discovery frame.

[0331] In some implementations, the frame may include a Multi-Link Element (MLE) carrying a First Change Sequence Field. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more operational parameters for a first communication link of the AP MLD. In other instances, the MLE may also include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying one or more operational parameters for a corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In one implementation, each per-link profile element may carry a partial or complete set of operational parameters for a Basic Service Set (BSS) associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In other implementations, one or more secondary change sequence fields may be included in one or more corresponding Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) elements carried in the frame.

[0332] In some implementations, the first change sequence field may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operational parameters of a basic service set (BSS) associated with a first AP and an associated first communication link of the AP MLD; and each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operational parameters of a BSS associated with a corresponding secondary AP and an associated secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0333] In some implementations, critical updates to a given communication link may correspond to changes in one or more operating parameters of the BSS associated with that communication link. In some instances, one or more operating parameters may include at least one of the following: CSA, Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, EDCA parameter, MU EDCA parameter, Quiet Time Element, DSSS parameter set, CF parameter set, OM, UORA parameter, TWT parameter, BSS color change, FILS parameter, SR parameter, HT operation, VHT operation, HE operation, or EHT operation.

[0334] Figure 28The diagram illustrates an example process 2800, illustrating wireless communication used to support indicative key updates regarding the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 2800 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 2800 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 28 For example, process 2800 is executed by an AP MLD that includes a first AP and one or more secondary APs. In some implementations, process 2800 can be... Figure 27 The AP MLD in box 2704 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0335] In box 2802, the first AP of the AP MLD receives a notification from one of the one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD regarding a critical update to the secondary communication link associated with the corresponding secondary AP. In box 2804, the first AP of the AP MLD increments the value of the secondary change sequence field associated with the corresponding secondary AP based on the notification.

[0336] Figure 29 The diagram illustrates an example process 2900, illustrating wireless communication used to support indicative key updates regarding the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 2900 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 2900 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 29 For example, process 2900 is executed by an AP MLD that includes a first AP and one or more secondary APs. In some implementations, process 2900 can be... Figure 27 The AP MLD in box 2704 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0337] In block 2902, the first AP of the AP MLD receives a probe request frame from the STA of the Radio Station (STA) MLD. In block 2904, the first AP of the AP MLD transmits a response frame to the STA MLD on a first communication link. This response frame includes a partial or complete set of operating parameters for one or more BSSs associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs of the AP MLD. In some instances, the response frame may include a complete set of operating parameters for at least one of the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In some other instances, the response frame may include a partial set of operating parameters for one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0338] Figure 30 The diagram illustrates an example process 3000, illustrating wireless communication for indicative of critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 3000 can be communicated by wireless communication devices (such as those referenced above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the operation. In some implementations, process 3000 can be performed by an AP (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6A The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the AP (either of the described APs 102 and 602) performs this function. Figure 30 For example, process 3000 is executed by an AP MLD that includes a first AP and one or more secondary APs. In some implementations, process 3000 can be... Figure 27 The AP MLD in box 2704 is executed after transmitting the frame.

[0339] In block 3002, the first AP of the AP MLD receives an indication of a critical update regarding the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In block 3004, the first AP of the AP MLD transmits a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In some implementations, the first AP of the AP MLD may provide an indication of transmitting the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD before transmitting the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame. In some instances, this indication may be provided in a management frame (such as, but not limited to, a beacon frame). In this way, the STAMLD is informed that the AP MLD will soon transmit the complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP, and therefore the STAMLD does not need to transmit an ML probe request to request the updated operating parameters for the corresponding secondary AP.

[0340] Figure 31The diagram illustrates an example process 3100 for supporting wireless communication indicative of critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 3100 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 3100 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 31 For example, process 3100 is executed by a STA MLD that includes a first STA and one or more sub-STAs.

[0341] In block 3102, the STA MLD associates with a first AP of the AP MLD, which further includes one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD. In block 3104, the STA MLD receives a frame from the first AP on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame may include a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields. The first change sequence field may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with the first communication link of the AP MLD. Each of the secondary change sequence fields may indicate the presence or absence of a critical update associated with a corresponding secondary link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD. The frame may be one of a beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, or FILS discovery frame.

[0342] In some implementations, the frame may include a Multi-Link Element (MLE) carrying a First Change Sequence Field. In some instances, the MLE may include one or more operational parameters for a first communication link of the AP MLD. In other instances, the MLE may also include one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each carrying one or more operational parameters for a corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD. In one implementation, each per-link profile element may carry a partial or complete set of operational parameters for a Basic Service Set (BSS) associated with the corresponding secondary AP of the AP MLD. In other implementations, one or more secondary change sequence fields may be included in one or more corresponding Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) elements carried in the frame.

[0343] In some implementations, the first change sequence field may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operational parameters of a basic service set (BSS) associated with a first AP and an associated first communication link of the AP MLD; and each of the one or more secondary change sequence fields may indicate a recent critical update to one or more operational parameters of a BSS associated with a corresponding secondary AP and an associated secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0344] In some implementations, critical updates to a given communication link may correspond to changes in one or more operating parameters of the BSS associated with that communication link. In some instances, one or more operating parameters may include at least one of the following: CSA, Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, EDCA parameter, MU EDCA parameter, Quiet Time Element, DSSS parameter set, CF parameter set, OM, UORA parameter, TWT parameter, BSS color change, FILS parameter, SR parameter, HT operation, VHT operation, HE operation, or EHT operation.

[0345] Figure 32 The flowchart illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication indicative of critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 3200 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one referenced above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 3200 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 32 For example, process 3200 is executed by a STA MLD that includes a first STA and one or more sub-STAs. In some implementations, process 3200 can be... Figure 31 The STA MLD in box 3104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0346] In box 3202, the STA MLD stores values ​​carried in a first change sequence field and one or more secondary change sequence fields of a received frame. In some implementations, storing this value may include incrementing the corresponding change sequence field value in response to a key update of the frame indicating that is associated with a communication link corresponding to the corresponding change sequence field value stored in the STA MLD.

[0347] Figure 33 The diagram illustrates an example process for supporting wireless communication indicative of critical updates to the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 3300 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 3300 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 33 For example, process 3300 is executed by a STA MLD that includes a first STA and one or more sub-STAs. In some implementations, process 3300 can be... Figure 31 The STA MLD in box 3104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0348] In box 3302, the STA MLD increments the value of the first change sequence field in the STA MLD based on the first change sequence field indicating a critical update regarding a first communication link of the AP MLD. In box 3304, the STA MLD increments the value of one or more secondary change sequence fields in the STA of the STAMLD based on one or more corresponding secondary change sequence fields indicating a critical update regarding one or more corresponding secondary communication links.

[0349] Figure 34 The diagram illustrates an example process 3400, illustrating wireless communication used to support indicative key updates regarding the MLD, based on some other implementations. Process 3400 can be communicated by a wireless communication device (such as the one described above). Figure 5 The described wireless communication device 500) performs the procedure. In some implementations, the procedure 3400 can be performed by a STA (such as those described above, referred to separately). Figure 1 and Figure 6B The wireless communication device that operates or operates within the STA (either of the STA 104 and 604) as described herein. Figure 34 For example, process 3400 is executed by a STA MLD that includes a first STA and one or more sub-STAs. In some implementations, process 3400 can be... Figure 31 The STA MLD in box 3104 is executed after receiving the frame.

[0350] In block 3402, the STA MLD transmits a probe request frame to the AP MLD on the first communication link. In block 3404, the STAMLD receives a response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link. This response frame includes a partial or complete set of operating parameters for one or more Basic Service Sets (BSS) associated with one or more corresponding secondary APs. In some instances, the probe request frame may indicate the latest received critical update regarding at least one of the secondary APs of the AP MLD.

[0351] Examples of implementations are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0352] 1. A method for performing wireless communication by an access point (AP) multilink device (MLD), comprising:

[0353] A frame is generated by a first AP associated with a first communication link of the AP MLD, the AP MLD further including one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD, the frame including:

[0354] One or more operating parameters for the first communication link of this AP MLD;

[0355] A first change sequence number (CSN) indicates whether a critical update exists or not regarding the first communication link of the AP MLD; and

[0356] One or more secondary CSNs, each of which indicates the presence or absence of a critical update for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD; and

[0357] The frame is transmitted on the first communication link of the AP MLD.

[0358] 2. The method of Clause 1, wherein the frame is one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame.

[0359] 3. The methods described in any one or more of Clauses 1-2 further include:

[0360] The first AP of the AP MLD receives a notification of a critical update regarding a corresponding secondary communication link from one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD that are associated with that corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD; and

[0361] Based on this notification, the secondary CSN corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link is incremented.

[0362] 4. The method of any or more of Clauses 1-3, wherein a critical update relating to at least one of the first communication link or one or more secondary communication links corresponds to a change in one or more operating parameters of the basic service set (BSS) associated with the respective communication link.

[0363] 5. The method of Clause 4, wherein the one or more operational parameters include at least one of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0364] 6. The method of any or more of Clauses 1-5, wherein:

[0365] The first CSN indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters used for the first communication link; and

[0366] Each of the one or more sub-CSNs indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the corresponding sub-communication link used for the AP MLD.

[0367] 7. The method of any or more of Clauses 1-6, wherein the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs are carried in the sequence counter field of the frame.

[0368] 8. The method of any one or more of Clauses 1-6, wherein the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs are carried in the information element.

[0369] 9. The method of any or more of Clauses 1-6, wherein the frame includes a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0370] 10. The method of Clause 9, wherein the MLA element includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0371] 11. The method of Clause 10, wherein each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements includes an information element (IE), the IE including the corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0372] 12. The method of Clause 9, wherein the MLA element includes a common parameter field carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0373] 13. The method of Clause 1, wherein the frame includes a beacon frame, the beacon frame including one or more per-link profile elements, each of the one or more per-link profile elements carrying the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0374] 14. The method of Clause 1, wherein the frame includes a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0375] 15. The method of Clause 14, wherein the RNR element includes one or more neighbor AP information fields, each of the one or more neighbor AP information fields carrying the corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0376] 16. The method of any or more of Clauses 1-15, wherein the frame further includes one or more Do Not Transmit (DNT) indications, each of the one or more DNT indications being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0377] 17. The method of Clause 16, wherein the frame further includes a DNT indication for the first communication link.

[0378] 18. The method of Clause 17, wherein the DNT indication for the first communication link and one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding sub-communication links are carried in the bit mapping of the frame.

[0379] 19. The method of Clause 16, wherein the DNT indication for one or more secondary communication links is based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a quiet time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of the secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link in the AP MLD.

[0380] 20. The method of Clause 16, wherein each of the one or more DNT indications indicates whether the wireless communication device wishes to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0381] 21. The method of Clause 20, wherein at least some of the wireless communication devices in the wireless communication equipment monitor the first communication link but not the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication.

[0382] 22. The method of Clause 16, wherein one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding sub-communication links are carried in the Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element of the frame.

[0383] 23. The method of Clause 22, wherein the MLA element includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links.

[0384] 24. The method of Clause 1, wherein the frame includes a beacon frame, the beacon frame including one or more per-link profile elements, each of the one or more per-link profile elements carrying a DNT indication for a corresponding sub-communication link in one or more sub-communication links.

[0385] 25. The method of Clause 24, wherein each of the one or more per-link profile elements includes an information element (IE) that includes a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link.

[0386] 26. The method of Clause 23, wherein the MLA element includes a common parameter field carrying one or more DNT indications for one or more corresponding secondary communication links.

[0387] 27. The method of Clause 16, wherein the frame includes a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element, the MLA element including one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a DNT indication and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links.

[0388] 28. The method of Clause 16, wherein one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding secondary communication links are carried in the Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element of the frame.

[0389] 29. The method of Clause 28, wherein the RNR element includes one or more neighbor AP information fields, each of the one or more neighbor AP information fields carrying a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0390] 30. The methods of any or more of clauses 1-29 further include:

[0391] The first AP of the AP MLD receives a notification of a non-transmit (DNT) condition for a corresponding secondary communication link from a corresponding secondary AP among one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD, the corresponding secondary AP being associated with the corresponding secondary communication link among the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD;

[0392] Assert the DNT indication corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link; and

[0393] Broadcast an asserted DNT indication corresponding to the corresponding secondary communication link on the first communication link.

[0394] 31. The method of Clause 1, wherein the frame includes a beacon frame carrying one or more profiles, each of the one or more profiles carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0395] 32. The methods of any or more of Clauses 1-31 further include:

[0396] The first AP of the AP MLD receives an indication of a critical update regarding a corresponding secondary communication link from a corresponding secondary AP among the one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD, the corresponding secondary AP being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link among the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD; and

[0397] The first AP of the AP MLD transmits a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame, which carries a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0398] 33. The method of Clause 32, wherein the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0399] 34. The method as described in Clause 1 further includes:

[0400] Receive probe request frames from the STA at the radio station (STA) MLD; and

[0401] A response frame is transmitted from the first AP of the AP MLD to the STA MLD on the first communication link.

[0402] 35. The method of Clause 34, wherein the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the respective secondary communication link for which one or more operating parameters have been updated.

[0403] 36. The method of any or more of Clauses 34-35, wherein the request frame is received by one of the first APs of the AP MLD on a first communication link or by a corresponding secondary AP of the one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD on a corresponding secondary communication link.

[0404] 37. The method of any or more of clauses 34-36, wherein the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0405] 38. The method of Clause 37, wherein the request frame includes a broadcast probe request frame.

[0406] 39. The method of Clause 36, wherein the probe request frame carries a CSN indicating a recently received critical update for a specified secondary communication link among the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD, the method further comprising:

[0407] Based on the received CSN, identify one or more CSNs that the STA MLD missed for specifying a secondary communication link; and

[0408] Transmit a response frame that indicates one or more secondary CSNs for the specified secondary communication link that the STA MLD has missed.

[0409] 40. The method of Clause 39, wherein the response frame includes a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates about the designated secondary communication link that the STA missed.

[0410] 41. The method of Clause 40, wherein the one or more critical updates missed by the STA are determined based on a comparison between the received CSN and the one or more secondary CSNs missed by the STA.

[0411] 42. The method of Clause 39, wherein the response frame includes one of a unicast probe response frame or a broadcast probe response frame, which carries a complete set of operating parameters for the designated secondary communication link.

[0412] 43. The method of Clause 42, wherein the response frame includes a broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for each of the designated secondary communication links and other non-designated secondary communication links.

[0413] 44. The method as described in Clause 1 further includes:

[0414] The corresponding secondary AP of one or more secondary APs associated with the designated secondary communication link of the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD receives a probe request frame from the STA of the radio station (STA) MLD on the designated secondary communication link; and

[0415] The corresponding secondary AP transmits a response frame to the STA MLD.

[0416] 45. The method of Clause 44, wherein the probe request frame carries a CSN indicating a recently received critical update regarding the designated secondary communication link, the method further comprising:

[0417] The response frame, along with one or more updated operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link, is transmitted to the STA MLD.

[0418] 46. ​​The method as described in Clause 1 further includes:

[0419] The corresponding secondary AP of one or more secondary APs associated with the designated secondary communication link of the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD receives a probe request frame from the STA of the radio station (STA) MLD on the designated secondary communication link; and

[0420] The corresponding secondary AP transmits a response frame to the STA MLD on the designated secondary communication link. The response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the designated secondary communication link.

[0421] 47. The method of Clause 46, wherein the response frame includes either a unicast probe response frame or a beacon frame.

[0422] 48. The method as described in Clause 1 further includes:

[0423] The first AP of the AP MLD receives an indication of one or more critical updates regarding the corresponding secondary communication link from one or more secondary APs of the AP MLD that are associated with the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD; and

[0424] On the first communication link, a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame is transmitted from the first AP of the AP MLD, which carries a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link.

[0425] 49. The method of Clause 48, wherein the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame occurs after a period of time following the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0426] 50. The method of Clause 49, wherein the latest beacon frame transmission from the first AP of the AP MLD includes an indication of the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0427] 51. The method of any or more of Clauses 31-50, wherein the set of operating parameters includes one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0428] 52. A wireless communication device, comprising:

[0429] At least one modem;

[0430] At least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one modem; and

[0431] At least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code, which, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to perform a method as described in any of Clauses 1-51.

[0432] 53. A method for performing wireless communication by a STA (Station) in a Radio Station (STA) Multilink Device (MLD), the method comprising:

[0433] The first AP is associated with an Access Point (AP) MLD, which further includes one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD, and

[0434] The frame is received from the first AP on the first communication link of the AP MLD. The frame includes:

[0435] One or more operating parameters for the first communication link;

[0436] A first change sequence number (CSN) indicates whether a critical update exists or not regarding the first communication link of the AP MLD; and

[0437] One or more secondary CSNs, each of which indicates the presence or absence of a critical update for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0438] 54. The method as described in Clause 53 further includes:

[0439] Based on the first CSN indication of a critical update regarding the first communication link of the AP MLD, the first CSN counter in the STA MLD is incremented; and

[0440] Based on one or more corresponding secondary CSN indications that there is a critical update regarding one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD, increment one or more secondary CSN counters in the STA MLD for that STA.

[0441] 55. The method of any or more of Clauses 53-54, wherein the frame includes one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame.

[0442] 56. The method of any or more of Clauses 53-55, wherein the critical update corresponds to a change in one or more operating parameters of the Basic Service Set (BSS), and the critical update is associated with at least one of the first communication link or one or more secondary communication links.

[0443] 57. The method of any one or more of Clauses 53-56, wherein the one or more operational parameters include at least one of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operation Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0444] 58. The method as described in Clause 53, wherein:

[0445] The first CSN indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters used for the first communication link; and

[0446] Each of the one or more sub-CSNs indicates the latest critical update to one or more operating parameters of the corresponding sub-communication link used for the AP MLD.

[0447] 59. The method of Clause 53, wherein the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs are carried in the sequence counter field of the frame.

[0448] 60. The method of Clause 53, wherein the first CSN and the one or more sub-CSNs are carried in the information element.

[0449] 61. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame includes a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0450] 62. The method of Clause 61, wherein the MLA element includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0451] 63. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame includes a beacon frame, the beacon frame including one or more per-link profile elements, each of the one or more per-link profile elements carrying the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0452] 64. The method of Clause 63, wherein each of the one or more per-link profile elements includes an information element (IE), the IE including the corresponding sub-CSN among the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0453] 65. The method of Clause 61, wherein the MLA element includes a common parameter field carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0454] 66. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame includes a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element, the MLA element including one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying the secondary CSN and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0455] 67. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame includes a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element carrying the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0456] 68. The method of Clause 67, wherein the RNR element includes one or more neighbor AP information fields, each of the one or more neighbor AP information fields carrying the corresponding sub-CSN in the one or more sub-CSNs.

[0457] 69. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame includes a beacon frame carrying one or more profiles, each of the one or more profiles carrying a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0458] 70. The method of Clause 53, wherein the frame further includes one or more Do Not Transmit (DNT) indications, each of the one or more DNT indications being associated with a corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD.

[0459] 71. The method as described in Clause 70 further includes:

[0460] Based on each communication link, and based on the corresponding DNT indication indicating a DNT condition in the one or more DNT indications, transmission is suppressed on the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links of the AP MLD.

[0461] 72. The method of Clause 70, wherein the frame further includes a DNT indication for the first communication link.

[0462] 73. The method of Clause 72, wherein the DNT indication for the first communication link and one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding sub-communication links are carried in the bit mapping of the frame.

[0463] 74. The method of Clause 70, wherein the DNT indication of a corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD is based on one or more of the following: a channel handover announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, a silent time announcement for the corresponding secondary communication link, or the unavailability of a secondary AP associated with the corresponding secondary communication link in one or more secondary APs of the secondary AP MLD.

[0464] 75. The method of Clause 70, wherein each of the one or more DNT indications indicates whether the wireless communication device wishes to suppress transmission on the corresponding secondary communication link of the AP MLD.

[0465] 76. The method of Clause 75, wherein the STA of the STA MLD monitors the first communication link but not the one or more secondary communication links to look for the DNT indication.

[0466] 77. The method of Clause 70, wherein one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding sub-communication links are carried in the Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element of the frame.

[0467] 78. The method of Clause 77, wherein the MLA element includes one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links.

[0468] 79. The method of Clause 78, wherein the one or more per-link profile sub-elements include an information element (IE) that includes a DNT indication for the corresponding sub-communication link.

[0469] 80. The method of Clause 77, wherein the MLA element includes a common parameter field carrying one or more DNT indications for one or more corresponding secondary communication links.

[0470] 81. The method of Clause 70, wherein the frame includes a Multi-Link Attribute (MLA) element, the MLA element including one or more per-link profile sub-elements, each of the one or more per-link profile sub-elements carrying a DNT indication and a complete set of operating parameters for the corresponding sub-communication link in the one or more sub-communication links.

[0471] 82. The method of Clause 70, wherein one or more DNT indications for the one or more corresponding secondary communication links are carried in the Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element of the frame.

[0472] 83. The method of Clause 82, wherein the RNR element includes one or more neighbor AP information fields, each of the one or more neighbor AP information fields carrying a DNT indication for the corresponding secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0473] 84. The method as described in Clause 53 further includes:

[0474] On the first communication link, receive from the first AP of the AP MLD an indication of a non-transmit (DNT) condition for a specified secondary communication link among one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD; and

[0475] Based on the received DNT instruction, transmission on the designated secondary communication link is suppressed.

[0476] 85. The method as described in Clause 53 further includes:

[0477] On the first communication link, a spontaneous broadcast probe response frame is received from the first AP of the AP MLD. The spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link in the one or more secondary communication links.

[0478] 86. The method of Clause 85, wherein the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame occurs after a period of time following the transmission of the latest beacon frame from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0479] 87. The method of Clause 86, wherein the latest beacon frame transmission from the first AP of the AP MLD includes an indication of the transmission of the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0480] 88. The method of Clause 85, wherein the spontaneous broadcast probe response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0481] 89. The method as described in Clause 53 further includes:

[0482] On the first communication link, receive an indication of a critical update for a specified secondary communication link in one or more secondary communication links of the AP MLD from the first AP of the AP MLD.

[0483] 90. The method as described in Clause 89 further includes:

[0484] Transmit probe request frames on the first communication link; and

[0485] Receive response frames from the first AP of the AP MLD on the first communication link.

[0486] 91. The method as described in Clause 89 further includes:

[0487] Transmit probe request frames on the designated secondary communication link; and

[0488] Receive response frames from one or more secondary APs associated with the specified secondary communication link on the specified secondary communication link.

[0489] 92. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link.

[0490] 93. The method of any or more of clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the response frame carries a complete set of operating parameters for each of the one or more secondary communication links.

[0491] 94. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the probe request frame includes a broadcast probe request frame.

[0492] 95. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the probe request frame carries a CSN indicating a recently received critical update regarding the designated secondary communication link, and the response frame carries an indication of one or more secondary CSNs for the designated secondary communication link that the STA MLD has missed.

[0493] 96. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the response frame includes a unicast probe response frame carrying one or more critical updates about the designated secondary communication link that the STA missed.

[0494] 97. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the response frame includes one of a unicast probe response frame or a broadcast probe response frame, which carries a complete set of operating parameters for the specified secondary communication link.

[0495] 98. The method of any or more of Clauses 90 or 91, wherein: the response frame includes a broadcast probe response frame carrying a complete set of operating parameters for each of the designated secondary communication links and other non-designated secondary communication links.

[0496] 99. The method of any or more of Clauses 66-98, wherein the set of operating parameters includes one or more of the following: Channel Switching Announcement (CSA), Extended CSA, Wideband CSA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameters, Multi-User (MU) EDCA parameters, Quiet Time Element, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) parameter set, Contention-Free (CF) parameter set, Operating Mode (OM) parameters, Uplink (UL) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) Random Access (UORA) parameters, Target Waiting Time (TWT) parameters, Basic Service Set (BSS) color change, Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) parameters, Spatial Reuse (SR) parameters, High Throughput (HT) operation, Very High Throughput (VHT) operation, High Efficiency (HE) operation, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation.

[0497] 100. A wireless communication device, comprising:

[0498] At least one modem;

[0499] At least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one modem; and

[0500] At least one memory communicatively coupled to and storing processor-readable code, which, when executed by the at least one processor in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to perform a method as described in any of Clauses 53-99.

[0501] 101. A wireless communication method performed by a radio station (STA) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:

[0502] A first STA associated with a first communication link of an access point (AP) MLD by a STA multilink device (MLD) receives a frame on the first communication link, the AP MLD further including one or more secondary APs associated with one or more corresponding secondary communication links of the AP MLD, the frame including an indication of an update of at least one operating parameter of a designated secondary communication link among the one or more secondary communication links;

[0503] Based on the received instruction regarding the update, it is determined that the first STA of the STA MLD cannot support the update of at least one operating parameter of the specified secondary communication link; and

[0504] Remove the specified secondary communication link from the multi-link (ML) context established between the STA MLD and the AP MLD.

[0505] 102. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context does not require deassociating it with the first AP of the APMLD.

[0506] 103. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context does not require dismantling the ML context.

[0507] 104. The method of Clause 101, wherein updating at least one operating parameter of the designated secondary communication includes one or more of the following: a change in the operating channel of the designated secondary communication link, a change in the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the designated secondary communication link, or a change in the bandwidth of the designated secondary communication link.

[0508] 105. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context includes:

[0509] On the first communication link, an action frame is transmitted from the first STA of the STA MLD to the first AP of the AP MLD. The action frame includes a request to update the ML context by removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context.

[0510] 106. The method of Clause 105, wherein the action frame includes an ML setting update action frame.

[0511] 107. The method of Clause 105, wherein the action frame further includes an element that includes one or more updates to the traffic identifier (TID) mapping associated with the ML context.

[0512] 108. The method of Clause 107, wherein one or more updates to the traffic identifier (TID) mapping include: remapping the TID from the designated secondary communication link to one or more of the first communication link or other undesignated secondary communication links among the one or more secondary communication links.

[0513] 109. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context includes:

[0514] On the first communication link, an action frame is transmitted from the first STA of the STA MLD to the first AP of the AP MLD. The action frame includes a request to disable the designated secondary communication link.

[0515] 110. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context includes:

[0516] Remap the Traffic Identifier (TID) from the designated secondary communication link to one or more of the first communication link or other undesignated secondary communication links.

[0517] 111. The method of Clause 101, wherein removing the designated secondary communication link from the ML context comprises:

[0518] Keep the STA MLD in a dormant or sleepy state on the designated secondary communication link.

[0519] 112. A method for performing wireless communication by an access point (AP) multilink device (MLD), comprising:

[0520] On the first communication link, one or more of discovery information, authentication information, or association information are exchanged between the first AP of the AP MLD and the first STA of the STA MLD. The first communication link is associated with the first AP of the AP MLD and with the first STA of the STA MLD.

[0521] Based on one or more of the discovery information, authentication information, or association information exchanged, a multi-link (ML) context is established between the AP MLD and the STA MLD, wherein the ML context includes identifiers of one or more communication links that can be used for communication between the AP MLD and the STA MLD;

[0522] The first frame is transmitted to or received from the STA MLD via the first communication link, and the first frame includes a request to modify the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context;

[0523] On the first communication link, a second frame is received from or transmitted to the STA MLD, the second frame responding to the first frame and indicating acceptance, rejection, or modification of the request; and

[0524] Based on the second frame indication of whether the request is accepted, rejected, or modified, the identifier of one or more communication links in the ML context is selectively modified.

[0525] 113. The method of Clause 112, wherein the ML context includes: a shared security context between a first Media Access Control Service Access Point (MAC-SAP) endpoint of the AP MLD and a second MAC-SAP endpoint of the STA MLD, wherein each of the first MAC-SAP endpoint and the second MAC-SAP endpoint is configured to communicate on a communication link identified by the ML context.

[0526] 114. The method as described in Clause 112 further includes:

[0527] Send or receive protected action frames to or from the STA MLD, the protected action frames indicating the maximum number of communication links supported by the AP MLD or the STA MLD, or the number of currently available communication links associated with the AP MLD.

[0528] 115. The method of Clause 112, wherein the first frame includes a management frame.

[0529] 116. The method of Clause 115, wherein the management frame includes an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame.

[0530] 117. The method of Clause 115, wherein the management frame includes a protected action frame.

[0531] 118. The method of Clause 117, wherein the protected action frame indicates one or more of the following: the maximum number of communication links supported by the AP MLD or the STA MLD, or the number of currently available communication links associated with the AP MLD.

[0532] 119. The method of Clause 117, wherein the protected action frame further includes one or more group transient keys (GTKs).

[0533] 120. The method of Clause 117, wherein the protected action frame contains protected ML information, the protected ML information including one or more of the following: shared security context, block acceptance (BA) session information, traffic identifier (TID) value and mapping between the communication link associated with the AP MLD, operating parameters of the AP MLD or the STA MLD, or capability information of the AP MLD or the STA MLD.

[0534] 121. The method of Clause 120, wherein the protected ML information is included in one or more fields or information elements (IEs) carried in the protected action frame.

[0535] 122. The method of Clause 112, wherein the first frame includes a request to add at least one additional communication link to the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0536] 123. The method of Clause 122, wherein the first frame includes an action frame that includes a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one additional communication link.

[0537] 124. The method of Clause 123, wherein the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the media access control (MAC) address of the STA MLD associated with the at least one additional communication link, or the MAC address of the AP MLD associated with the at least one additional communication link.

[0538] 125. The method of Clause 123, wherein the at least one additional communication link includes a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0539] 126. The method of Clause 123, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0540] Based on the second frame indicating acceptance of the request, the at least one additional communication link is added to the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0541] 127. The method of Clause 123, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0542] Based on the rejection of the request indicated by the second frame, the addition of the at least one additional communication link to the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context is suppressed.

[0543] 128. The method of Clause 112, wherein the first frame includes a request to remove at least one communication link from the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0544] 129. The method of Clause 128, wherein the first frame includes an action frame that includes a link identifier that uniquely identifies the at least one communication link.

[0545] 130. The method of Clause 129, wherein the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the media access control (MAC) address of the STA MLD associated with the at least one communication link, or the MAC address of the AP MLD associated with the at least one communication link.

[0546] 131. The method of Clause 129, wherein the at least one communication link includes a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0547] 132. The method of Clause 129, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0548] Based on the acceptance of the request indicated by the second frame, the at least one communication link is removed from the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context.

[0549] 133. The method as described in Clause 129, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0550] Based on the rejection of the request indicated by the second frame, the deletion of at least one communication link from the identifier of the one or more communication links in the ML context is suppressed.

[0551] 134. The method of Clause 112, wherein the first frame includes a request to change at least one of the identified communication links to a new communication link.

[0552] 135. The method of Clause 134, wherein the first frame includes an action frame that includes a link identifier that uniquely identifies the new communication link.

[0553] 136. The method of Clause 135, wherein the action frame further includes one or more of the following: the media access control (MAC) address of the STA MLD associated with the new communication link of the corresponding STA, or the MAC address of the AP MLD associated with the new communication link of the corresponding AP.

[0554] 137. The method of Clause 134, wherein the new communication link includes a secondary communication link associated with a second AP of the AP MLD and a second STA of the STA MLD.

[0555] 138. The method as described in Clause 134, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0556] Based on the acceptance of the request indicated by the second frame, at least one communication link identified in the ML context is changed to a new communication link.

[0557] 139. The method as described in Clause 134, wherein selectively modifying the identifier includes:

[0558] Based on the rejection of the request indicated by the second frame, the modification of the at least one communication link identified in the ML context is suppressed.

[0559] As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” or “one or more of” referring to a list of items means any combination of these items, including a single member. For example, “at least one of a, b, or c” is intended to cover the following possibilities: only a, only b, only c, a combination of a and b, a combination of a and c, a combination of b and c, and a combination of a, b, and c.

[0560] The various illustrative components, logic, logic blocks, modules, circuits, operations, and algorithmic processes described in conjunction with the implementations disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or a combination of hardware, firmware, or software, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents. This interchangeability of hardware, firmware, and software has been generally described in terms of its functionality and is illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware, firmware, or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0561] Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but are to be granted the broadest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles disclosed herein, and the novel features.

[0562] Furthermore, the various features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple implementations. Thus, although features may be described above as operating in a particular combination and even initially claimed in this way, one or more features from the claimed combination may be removed from that combination in some cases, and the claimed combination may be for sub-combinations or variations thereof.

[0563] Similarly, although the operations are depicted in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be construed as requiring such operations to be performed in the specific order shown or sequentially, or requiring the execution of all explained operations to achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the drawings may schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of flowcharts or flow diagrams. However, other operations not depicted may be incorporated into the schematically explained example processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between any explained operations. In some environments, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of the various system components in the implementation described above should not be construed as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Claims

1. A non-access point AP multi-link device (MLD), comprising: A processing system, comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing code, is configured to enable the non-AP MLD wireless station STA to: Send a request frame to the AP MLD, the request frame including a link identifier ID associated with the AP of the AP MLD to be added to the multi-link ML context between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD; In response to the request frame, a response frame including a Multi-Link Element (MLE) is received, the MLE indicating profile information of a communication link, which is a communication link added to the ML context based on the link ID of the request frame. as well as Communicate with the AP MLD based on the profile information of the communication link added to the ML context.

2. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: A second request frame is transmitted to the AP MLD, the second request frame including a request to delete the second communication link from the ML context; and A second response frame is received in response to the second request frame, the second response frame indicating acceptance of the request to remove the second communication link from the ML context.

3. The non-AP MLD of claim 2, wherein the second communication link is deleted from the ML context in accordance with the acceptance of the request.

4. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: Switch from communicating via the first communication link in the ML context to communicating via the communication link added to the ML context.

5. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: A frame is transmitted indicating a change to one or more operating parameters associated with the communication link, wherein the communication link is updated according to the change to the one or more operating parameters.

6. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: Transmit packets that indicate that the STA can operate via one or more communication links in the ML context.

7. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: The transmission indicates a packet containing one or more of the following: the channel number of the corresponding communication link in the ML context, the Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), or the frequency range.

8. The non-AP MLD as described in claim 1, wherein: The communication link added to the ML context corresponds to one or more of a first wireless channel, a first Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), or a first frequency range; and The second communication link of the ML context corresponds to one or more of the following: a second wireless channel different from the first wireless channel, a second BSSID different from the first BSSID, or a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

9. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the response frame is received from the AP or from a second AP of the AP MLD that is different from the AP.

10. The non-AP MLD of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the STA of the non-AP MLD to: A transmission frame indicates one or both of the following: one or more capabilities of the STA or one or more security parameters of the STA.

11. An access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising: A processing system, comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing code, is configured to enable the AP MLD of the AP: Receive a request frame from a non-AP MLD radio station STA, the request frame including a link identifier ID associated with the AP of the AP MLD to be added to the multi-link ML context between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD; In response to the request frame, a response frame including a Multi-Link Element (MLE) is transmitted, the MLE indicating profile information of a communication link that is added to the ML context based on the link ID of the request frame. as well as Communicate with the STA based on the profile information of the communication link added to the ML context.

12. The AP MLD of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP of the AP MLD to: A second request frame is received from the second STA of the non-AP MLD, the second request frame including a request to delete the second communication link from the ML context; and A second response frame is transmitted in response to the second request frame, the second response frame indicating acceptance of the request to remove the second communication link from the ML context.

13. The AP MLD of claim 12, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP of the AP MLD to: The second communication link is removed from the ML context based on the acceptance of the request indicated by the second response frame.

14. The AP MLD of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP of the AP MLD to: Switch from communicating via the first communication link in the ML context to communicating via the communication link added to the ML context.

15. The AP MLD of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP of the AP MLD to: Receive frames indicating changes to one or more operating parameters associated with the communication link; and The communication link is updated based on the changes to the one or more operating parameters.

16. The AP MLD as claimed in claim 11, wherein: The communication link added to the ML context corresponds to one or more of a first wireless channel, a first Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), or a first frequency range; and The second communication link of the ML context corresponds to one or more of the following: a second wireless channel different from the first wireless channel, a second BSSID different from the first BSSID, or a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

17. The AP MLD of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP of the AP MLD to: The transmission indicates a packet containing one or more of the following: the channel number of the corresponding communication link in the ML context, the Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), or the frequency range.

18. The AP MLD of claim 11, wherein the response frame is transmitted to the STA or a second STA that is different from the STA in the non-AP MLD.

19. A non-access point AP multi-link device (MLD), comprising: A processing system, comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing code, is configured to enable the non-AP MLD wireless station STA to: Send a request frame to the AP MLD, the request frame including the link identifier ID associated with the AP of the AP MLD to be removed from the multi-link ML context between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD; A response frame is received in response to the request frame, the response frame indicating that the communication link should be removed from the ML context based on the link ID of the request frame; as well as The communication link is deleted from the ML context according to the deletion of the communication link from the ML context, and the communication link is deleted from the ML context according to the response frame indicating that the communication link should be deleted from the ML context.

20. An access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising: A processing system, comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing code, is configured to enable the AP MLD of the AP: A request frame is received from a non-AP MLD radio station STA, the request frame including a link identifier ID associated with the AP of the AP MLD to be removed from the multi-link ML context between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD; A response frame is transmitted in response to the request frame, the response frame indicating that the communication link should be removed from the ML context based on the link ID of the request frame; as well as Communicating with the STA by removing the communication link from the ML context, the communication link being removed from the ML context according to the response frame indicating that the communication link should be removed from the ML context.

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