WLAN operation using multiple component channels

Abstract

A method is described for operating a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, the wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel having a plurality of component channels. A first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) and a second PPDU different from the first PPDU are generated. The first PPDU and the second PPDU are simultaneously transmitted to a second communication device over a WLAN communication channel, including: transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment occupying a first frequency bandwidth; and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel within a second RF channel segment occupying a second frequency bandwidth that does not overlap the first frequency bandwidth segment and is separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with international application number PCT / US2019 / 053556, international application date September 27, 2019, entering the Chinese national phase on May 19, 2021, Chinese national application number 201980076250.4, and invention name “WLAN operation using multiple component channels”. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to physical layer (PHY) support for data transmission and reception over multiple communication channels. Background Art

[0003] Over the past decade, wireless local area networks (WLANs) have rapidly grown, and the development of WLAN standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series of standards, has resulted in improved single-user peak data throughput. For example, the IEEE 802.11b standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 11 megabits per second (Mbps), the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g standards specify a single-user peak throughput of 54 Mbps, the IEEE 802.11n standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 600 Mbps, and the IEEE 802.11ac standard specifies a single-user peak throughput in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range. Future standards are expected to provide even greater throughput, such as throughput in the tens of Gbps range. Although IEEE 802.11-compatible communication devices typically utilize the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency bands, due to the availability of additional frequency bands for WLAN communications (e.g., the 6 GHz band), improved throughput is provided by communication devices that are configured to utilize multiple frequency bands in parallel. In certain scenarios, supporting access to multiple frequency bands by multiple devices creates the following challenges: maintaining fairness to legacy devices that only support a single frequency band; providing indication of supported frequency bands to other devices; and determining which frequency bands should be utilized when communicating with another device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one embodiment, a method for operating a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels, the method comprising: generating a first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) at the first communication device for transmission to the second communication device; generating a second PPDU different from the first PPDU at the first communication device for transmission to the second communication device; and simultaneously transmitting, by the first communication device, the first PPDU and the second PPDU to the second communication device via the WLAN communication channel, the transmitting comprising: transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel of the multiple component channels, the first component channel being within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment occupying a first frequency bandwidth; and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel of the multiple component channels, the second component channel being within a second RF channel segment occupying a second frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth not overlapping with the first frequency bandwidth segment and being separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

[0005] In another embodiment, a method for operating a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels, includes: associating, by the first communication device, a first physical layer (PHY) processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the first PHY processor having a first transceiver, the first transceiver configured for radio frequency (RF) communication in a first frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel; associating, by the first communication device, a second PHY processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the second PHY processor having a second transceiver, the second transceiver configured for RF communication in a second frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel, wherein the first frequency bandwidth and the second frequency bandwidth do not overlap and are separated by a frequency gap; and entering a power save mode by the first transceiver when the second transceiver is in an active mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example wireless local area network (WLAN) supporting multiple component channels arranged in one or more channel segments, according to an embodiment.

[0007] Figure 2A is a block diagram of an example physical layer (PHY) data unit according to one embodiment, the PHY data unit consists of Figure 1 WLAN communication device to send and / or receive;

[0008] Figure 2B According to one embodiment Figure 2AA block diagram of an example preamble of a PHY data unit;

[0009] Figure 3A is configured for multi-channel operation according to one embodiment Figure 1 A diagram of an example system architecture corresponding to a communication device;

[0010] Figure 3B is according to another embodiment and is configured for multi-channel operation Figure 1 A diagram of an example system architecture corresponding to a communication device;

[0011] Figure 4 According to one embodiment, Figure 1 FIGURE 1 illustrates an example multi-channel operating channel utilized by a WLAN communication device;

[0012] Figure 5A and Figure 5B In one embodiment Figure 1 an example timing diagram for a WLAN communication device configured to use a plurality of component channels of a WLAN communication channel;

[0013] Figure 6 In another embodiment Figure 1 An example timing diagram for a WLAN communication device configured to use multiple component channels of a WLAN communication channel.

[0014] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating, in one embodiment, Figure 1 operating in a WLAN communication channel between a first WLAN communication device and a second WLAN communication device Figure 1 A flowchart of an example method of a first WLAN communication device; and

[0015] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for operating in a WLAN communication channel between a first WLAN communication device and a second WLAN communication device according to one embodiment. Figure 1 Flowchart of an example method of a first WLAN communication device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] For illustrative purposes only, the multi-channel communication technology described below is discussed in the context of a wireless local area network (WLAN), which, for illustrative purposes only, uses protocols that are the same as or similar to the protocols defined by the 802.11 standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). However, in other embodiments, the multi-channel communication technology is used in other types of suitable wireless communication systems.

[0017] In various embodiments, a WLAN communication channel includes multiple component channels arranged in one or more channel segments. In some embodiments, the channel segments are continuous, while in other embodiments, the channel segments are discontinuous, in other words, separated by a frequency gap. In one embodiment, the channel segments are located in different frequency bands, such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. In other embodiments, other suitable frequency bands (e.g., 60 GHz, "sub-1 GHz" or 900 MHz, 3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, etc.) are utilized. In various embodiments, the component channels occupy 20 MHz bandwidth, 40 MHz bandwidth, 5 MHz bandwidth, or other suitable bandwidth within the corresponding frequency band. In various embodiments, a channel segment includes one or more component channels and has a total bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz, or another suitable total bandwidth.

[0018] In various embodiments, a WLAN communication device (e.g., an access point (AP)) designates a component channel of a WLAN communication channel as a "primary" channel or a "secondary" channel. The AP utilizes the primary channel for various operations, such as for transmitting various management transmissions (e.g., transmissions for associating a client station 154 with the AP 114, beacon transmissions by the AP 114, operating channel bandwidth switch announcement transmissions, etc.), for performing clear channel assessment (CCA) procedures, etc. The AP utilizes the primary channel and / or the secondary channel for data packet communication with other WLAN communication devices (e.g., for communicating user data to a client station). In one embodiment, the AP generally reserves the primary channel(s) for management operations associated with the WLAN 110 and does not use the secondary channels for management operations.

[0019] In one embodiment, the WLAN communication channel has only one component channel designated as a primary channel, while the remaining component channels are designated as secondary channels. In another embodiment, the WLAN communication channel has two or more primary channels, and the remaining component channels are designated as secondary channels. In some embodiments, at least some of the two or more primary channels are in different frequency bands. For example, the first primary channel is in the 5 GHz frequency band, while the second primary channel is in the 6 GHz frequency band.

[0020] Figure 1is a block diagram of an example wireless local area network (WLAN) 110 that supports multiple component channels arranged in one or more channel segments, according to one embodiment. The WLAN 110 includes an access point (AP) 114 that includes a host processor 118 coupled to a network interface device 122. The network interface device 122 includes one or more media access control (MAC) processors 126 (sometimes referred to herein as "MAC processors 126" for brevity) and one or more physical layer (PHY) processors 130 (sometimes referred to herein as "PHY processors 130" for brevity). The PHY processor 130 includes multiple transceivers 134, and the transceivers 134 are coupled to multiple antennas 138. Although in Figure 1 134 and three antennas 138, but in other embodiments, the AP 114 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 134 and antennas 138. In some embodiments, the AP 114 includes a higher number of antennas 138 than transceivers 134 and utilizes antenna switching technology.

[0021] The network interface device 122 is implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs) configured to operate as discussed below. For example, in various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is at least partially implemented on a first IC, while the PHY processor 130 is at least partially implemented on a second IC. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130 are implemented on a single IC. For example, the network interface device 122 is implemented using a system on a chip (SoC), where the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130.

[0022] In one embodiment, host processor 118 comprises a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, host processor 118 is at least partially implemented on a first IC, and in various embodiments, network interface device 122 is at least partially implemented on a second IC. As another example, host processor 118 and at least a portion of network interface device 122 are implemented on a single IC.

[0023] In various embodiments and / or scenarios, the network interface device 122 is configured to simultaneously generate and transmit different PHY protocol data units (PPDUs) utilizing different component channels of a WLAN communication channel. In one embodiment, for example, the network interface device 122 is configured to generate a first PPDU and a second PPDU, and i) transmit the first PPDU via a first component channel in a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment, and ii) transmit the second PPDU via a second component channel in a second RF channel segment. In some embodiments, the first RF channel segment and the second RF channel segment do not overlap and are separated by a frequency gap.

[0024] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 and / or the PHY processor 130 of the AP 114 are configured to generate data units and process received data units that conform to a WLAN communication protocol, such as a communication protocol conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or other suitable wireless communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 126 is configured to implement MAC layer functions, including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 130 is configured to implement PHY functions, including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 126 is configured to generate MAC layer data units, such as MAC service data units (MSDUs), MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), etc., and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 130. The PHY processor 130 is configured to receive the MAC layer data units from the MAC processor 126 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units to generate PHY data units, such as PHY protocol data units (PPDUs), for transmission via the antenna 138. Similarly, the PHY processor 130 is configured to receive a PHY data unit received via the antenna 138 and extract the MAC layer data unit encapsulated within the PHY data unit. The PHY processor 130 may provide the extracted MAC layer data unit to the MAC processor 126, which processes the MAC layer data unit.

[0025] PHY data units are sometimes referred to herein as "packets," and MAC layer data units are sometimes referred to herein as "frames."

[0026] According to one embodiment, in conjunction with generating one or more radio frequency (RF) signals for transmission, the PHY processor 130 is configured to process (which may include modulation, filtering, etc.) data corresponding to the PPDU to generate one or more digital baseband signals and convert the digital baseband signal(s) into one or more analog baseband signals. Additionally, the PHY processor 130 is configured to upconvert the one or more analog baseband signals into one or more RF signals for transmission via one or more antennas 138.

[0027] In conjunction with receiving one or more RF signals, the PHY processor 130 is configured to downconvert the one or more RF signals into one or more analog baseband signals and convert the one or more analog baseband signals into one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 130 is also configured to process (which may include demodulating, filtering, etc.) the one or more digital baseband signals to generate a PPDU.

[0028] The PHY processor 130 includes an amplifier (e.g., a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier, etc.), a radio frequency (RF) down-converter, an RF up-converter, multiple filters, one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs), one or more discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculators (e.g., a fast Fourier transform (FFT) calculator), one or more inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) calculators (e.g., an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) calculator), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, etc.

[0029] The PHY processor 130 is configured to generate one or more RF signals, which are provided to the one or more antennas 138. The PHY processor 130 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 138.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 126 is configured to control the PHY processor 130 to generate one or more RF signals by, for example, providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 130 and, optionally, providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor 130. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 126 comprises a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown) (such as RAM, read-only ROM, flash memory, etc.) to provide at least some of the functionality described herein. In another embodiment, the MAC processor 126 comprises a hardware state machine that provides at least some of the functionality described herein.

[0031] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 includes one or more multi-band backoff timers 127 configured to execute one or more backoff procedures in conjunction with multiple communication channels in multiple RF bands. According to one embodiment, the backoff procedure involves waiting for a period of time before attempting to use a communication channel. In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the AP 114 utilizes different backoff timers for different primary channels within different frequency bands of the WLAN communication channel. In certain scenarios, separate primary channels improve coexistence and sharing with legacy devices or single-band devices. In one embodiment, the multi-band backoff timer 127 includes one or more network allocation vector (NAV) counters according to one embodiment for monitoring the use of multiple communication channels in multiple RF bands. For example, according to one embodiment, in at least some cases, when the access point 114 receives a packet, the MAC processor 126 sets the NAV counter based on the value in the duration field in the MAC header of the packet. The MAC processor 126 monitors the NAV counter to determine when the transmission of the packet has concluded. Some packets are configured to reserve a channel for a desired period of time, and the duration field in the packet's MAC header is set to the desired period of time. Upon receiving such a packet, the MAC processor 126 sets a NAV counter based on the value in the duration field in the packet's MAC header. The MAC processor 126 monitors the NAV counter to determine when the reservation of the channel has ended. In some embodiments, as described below, the MAC processor 126 includes i) one or more NAV counters, and ii) one or more NAV synchronization timers that allow synchronization after a primary channel change in the operating channel.

[0032] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 126 and the PHY processor 130 are configured to operate in accordance with a first WLAN communication protocol (e.g., the IEEE 802.11be standard or Extremely High Throughput (EHT)) and also in accordance with one or more second WLAN communication protocols (e.g., defined by one or more of the IEEE 802.11n standard, the IEEE 802.11ac standard, the IEEE 802.11ax standard, and / or other suitable WLAN communication protocols), the second WLAN communication protocol being a legacy protocol relative to the first WLAN communication protocol. The one or more second WLAN communication protocols are sometimes collectively referred to herein as "legacy WLAN communication protocols" or simply as "legacy protocols."

[0033] WLAN 110 includes a plurality of client stations 154. Although Figure 11 , but in various embodiments, the WLAN 110 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, etc.) of client stations 154. The client stations 154 include a host processor 158 coupled to a network interface device 162. The network interface device 162 includes one or more MAC processors 166 (sometimes referred to herein as "MAC processors 166" for brevity) and one or more PHY processors 170 (sometimes referred to herein as "PHY processors 170" for brevity). The PHY processor 170 includes a plurality of transceivers 174, and the transceivers 174 are coupled to a plurality of antennas 178. Although Figure 1 174 and three antennas 178 are illustrated in FIG. 1 , but in other embodiments, the client station 154 includes another suitable number (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 174 and antennas 178. In some embodiments, the client station 154 includes a greater number of antennas 178 than transceivers 174 and utilizes antenna switching techniques. In some embodiments, one or more of the network interface device 162, the MAC processor 166, and the PHY processor 170 are configured similarly to the network interface device 122, the MAC processor 126, and the PHY processor 130, respectively.

[0034] The network interface device 162 is implemented using one or more ICs configured to operate as discussed below. For example, in various embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is implemented on at least a first IC, while the PHY processor 170 is implemented on at least a second IC. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170 are implemented on a single IC. For example, the network interface device 162 is implemented using a SoC, where the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170.

[0035] In one embodiment, host processor 158 comprises a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown) such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, host processor 158 is at least partially implemented on a first IC, and in various embodiments, network device 162 is at least partially implemented on a second IC. As another example, host processor 158 and at least a portion of network interface device 162 are implemented on a single IC.

[0036] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 166 and the PHY processor 170 of the client device 154 are configured to generate data units and process received data units, the data units being in accordance with a WLAN communication protocol or another suitable communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 166 is configured to implement MAC layer functions, including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 170 is configured to implement PHY functions, including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. The MAC processor 166 is configured to generate MAC layer data units, such as MSDUs, MPDUs, etc., and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 170. The PHY processor 170 is configured to receive MAC layer data units from the MAC processor 166 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units to generate PHY data units, such as PPDUs, for transmission via the antenna 178. Similarly, the PHY processor 170 is configured to receive PHY data units received via the antenna 178 and extract the MAC layer data units encapsulated within the PHY data units. The PHY processor 170 may provide the extracted MAC layer data unit to the MAC processor 166, which processes the MAC layer data unit. In some embodiments, for example, the MAC processor 166 is configured similarly to the MAC processor 126. In one embodiment, for example, the MAC processor 166 includes multiple instances of the multi-band backoff timer 127.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the PHY processor 170 is configured to down-convert one or more RF signals received via one or more antennas 178 into one or more baseband analog signals, and convert the analog baseband signal(s) into one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 170 is also configured to process the one or more digital baseband signals to demodulate the one or more digital baseband signals and generate a PPDU. The PHY processor 170 includes an amplifier (e.g., an LNA, a power amplifier, etc.), an RF down-converter, an RF up-converter, multiple filters, one or more ADCs, one or more DACs, one or more DFT calculators (e.g., an FFT calculator), one or more IDFT calculators (e.g., an IFFT calculator), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, and the like.

[0038] The PHY processor 170 is configured to generate one or more RF signals, which are provided to the one or more antennas 178. The PHY processor 170 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 178.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 is configured to control the PHY processor 170 to generate one or more RF signals, for example, by providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 170 and, optionally, providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor 170. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 166 comprises a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown) (such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc.) to provide at least some of the functionality described herein. In one embodiment, the MAC processor 166 comprises a hardware state machine that provides at least some of the functionality described herein.

[0040] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 166 and the PHY processor 170 are configured to operate according to the first WLAN communication protocol and also according to a legacy WLAN communication protocol.

[0041] In one embodiment, each of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or similar structure as client station 154-1. Each of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or different number of transceivers and antennas. For example, according to one embodiment, client station 154-2 and / or client station 154-3 each has only two transceivers and two antennas (not shown).

[0042] In one embodiment, one or both of client stations 154-2 and 154-3 are configured to operate according to a legacy WLAN communication protocol rather than the first WLAN communication protocol. Such client stations are referred to herein as "legacy client stations." Similarly, an access point similar to AP 114 that is configured to operate according to a legacy WLAN communication protocol rather than the first WLAN communication protocol is referred to herein as a "legacy AP." More generally, wireless communication devices that are configured to operate according to a legacy WLAN communication protocol rather than the first WLAN communication protocol are referred to herein as "legacy communication devices."

[0043] Figure 2A is a diagram of an example PPDU 200 according to one embodiment, the network interface device 122 ( Figure 1 ) is configured to generate the example PPDU 200 and send it to one or more client stations 154 (e.g., client station 1541). The network interface device 162 ( Figure 1) may also be configured to send data units that are the same as or similar to PPDU 200 to AP 114. PPDU 200 may occupy a 20 MHz bandwidth or another suitable bandwidth. In other embodiments, data units similar to PPDU 200 occupy other suitable bandwidths, such as 40 MHz, 60 MHz, 80 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz, 140 MHz, 160 MHz, 180 MHz, 200 MHz, or other suitable bandwidths.

[0044] PPDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 204 and a PHY data portion 208. In at least some embodiments, PHY preamble 204 may include at least one of a legacy portion 212 and a non-legacy portion 216. In one embodiment, legacy portion 212 is configured to be processed by a legacy communication device (i.e., a communication device operating according to a legacy communication protocol) in WLAN 110, thereby enabling the legacy communication device to detect PPDU 200 and obtain PHY information corresponding to PPDU 200, such as the duration of PPDU 200.

[0045] Figure 2B 2 is a diagram of an example PHY preamble 220. In one embodiment, PHY preamble 220 corresponds to PHY preamble 204. PHY preamble 220 includes one or more short training fields (STFs) 224, one or more long training fields (LTFs) 228, and one or more signal fields (SIGs) 232. In one embodiment, STFs 224 and LTFs 228 are used for packet detection, automatic gain control (AGC), frequency offset estimation, channel estimation, and the like. In one embodiment, the number of LTFs in LTFs 228 corresponds to the number of spatial streams / space-time streams used to transmit PPDU 200. In one embodiment, SIG 232 is used to signal PHY communication parameters corresponding to PPDU 200 (e.g., modulation and coding scheme (MCS), number of spatial streams, frequency bandwidth, etc.). In one embodiment, SIG field 232 is an extremely high throughput (EHT) signal field. In another embodiment, SIG field 232 is a high efficiency (HE) signal field. In yet another embodiment, SIG field 232 is a high throughput (HT) signal field. In one embodiment, the PHY preamble 220 (eg, legacy STF 224, LTF 228, and SIG 232) is included in the legacy portion 212. In another embodiment, the PHY preamble 220 (eg, legacy STF 224, LTF 228, and SIG 232) is included in the non-legacy portion 216.

[0046] In some embodiments, the PHY preamble 220 omits one or more of fields 224 through 232. In some embodiments, the PHY preamble 220 includes Figure 2B In some embodiments, the order of fields 224 to 232 is the same as Figure 2B In one embodiment, the PPDU 200 is generated and transmitted as a sequence of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. In one embodiment, each of the STF 224, LTF 228, SIG 232, and data portion 208 includes one or more OFDM symbols.

[0047] In one embodiment, the AP 114 and the plurality of client stations 154 are configured for multi-user (MU) communication using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission. In one embodiment, the PPDU 200 is a MU OFDMA data unit, in which independent data streams are transmitted to or by the plurality of client stations 154 using corresponding sets of OFDM tones assigned to the client stations 154. For example, in one embodiment, the available OFDM tones (e.g., OFDM tones not used as DC tones and / or guard tones) are partitioned into a plurality of resource units (RUs), and each of the plurality of RUs is allocated data for one or more client stations 154. In one embodiment, the independent data streams in the allocated respective RUs are further transmitted using corresponding spatial streams assigned to the client stations 154 using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. In one embodiment, the PPDU 200 is a MU-MIMO PHY data unit, in which the independent data streams are transmitted to the plurality of client stations 154 using corresponding spatial streams assigned to the client stations 154.

[0048] In one embodiment, the operating communication channel of the communication devices in WLAN 110 is divided into multiple smaller component channels, each corresponding to a width of 20 MHz or another suitable frequency bandwidth. In some embodiments, multiple component channels are cascaded or "joined" to form a wider channel. For example, in various embodiments, a 40 MHz channel is formed by combining two 20 MHz component channels, an 80 MHz channel is formed by combining two 40 MHz channels, and a 160 MHz channel is formed by combining two 80 MHz channels. In one embodiment, the operating frequency band is divided into component channels of a width other than 20 MHz. In some embodiments, the component channels are aggregated, as described below.

[0049] In one embodiment, PPDU 200 has a frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz and is transmitted in a 20 MHz channel. In other embodiments, PPDU 200 may have a frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz, etc., and may be transmitted in corresponding channels of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz, etc. In some such embodiments, at least a portion of PPDU 200 (e.g., at least the legacy portion of PHY preamble 204, or the entire PHY preamble 204) is generated by generating a field corresponding to a 20 MHz component channel bandwidth and, in one embodiment, repeating the field for a number of 20 MHz component channels corresponding to the transmission channel. For example, in an embodiment where PPDU 200 occupies 80 MHz contiguous channels, at least the legacy portion 212 corresponding to the 20 MHz component channel bandwidth is replicated and transmitted simultaneously in each of four 20 MHz component channels comprising 80 MHz.

[0050] In one embodiment, one or more communication devices (e.g., AP 114, client station 154, etc.) in WLAN 110 are configured for various multi-channel operations. In one embodiment corresponding to multi-channel operation, two or more communication channels (sometimes referred to herein as "channel segments") are aggregated to form an aggregate channel for simultaneous transmission or reception over the two or more aggregated communication channels in WLAN 110. For example, in one embodiment, AP 114 is configured to transmit a first signal (e.g., a first PPDU or a portion thereof) in a first communication channel segment (sometimes referred to herein as the "first channel segment") and simultaneously transmit a second signal (e.g., a second PPDU or a portion of the first PPDU) in a second channel segment (sometimes referred to herein as the "second channel segment"), where the first channel segment and the second channel segment do not overlap. In some embodiments, the first signal and the second signal are transmitted to the same communication device. In some embodiments, the first signal and the second signal are transmitted to two or more different communication devices. In some embodiments, the first PPDU and the second PPDU have the same payload (e.g., a management frame or a multicast frame). In some embodiments, the first PPDU and the second PPDU have different payloads (e.g., data frames for different communication devices). In some embodiments, as described herein, AP 114 initiates transmission of a first signal and a second signal at the same start time (e.g., synchronously), for example, using multiple RF radios. In one embodiment, AP 114 is configured to cease transmission of the first signal and the second signal at the same end time. In one embodiment, AP 114 is configured to cease transmission of the first signal and the second signal at different end times. In one embodiment, AP 114 is configured to receive the first signal in a first channel segment and simultaneously receive the second signal via a second channel segment, wherein the first signal and the second signal have the same start time. In one embodiment, the first signal and the second signal have the same end time. In another embodiment, the first signal and the second signal have different end times.

[0051] In an embodiment corresponding to multi-channel operation, the first channel segment and the second channel segment are discontinuous, i.e., there is a gap in frequency between the first channel segment and the second channel segment. In another embodiment, the first channel segment and the second channel segment are contiguous, i.e., there is no frequency gap between the first channel segment and the second channel segment. In one embodiment, the first channel segment and the second channel segment have different frequency bandwidths. In one embodiment, the first channel segment and the second channel segment include correspondingly different numbers of component channels. In another embodiment, the first channel segment and the second channel segment have the same bandwidth and include the same number of component channels.

[0052] In one embodiment, different communication devices (i.e., AP 114 and client stations 154) are configured for operation in different frequency bands. In one embodiment, at least some communication devices (e.g., AP 114 and client stations 154) in WLAN 110 are configured for operation over multiple different frequency bands. Example frequency bands include a first frequency band ("2 GHz band") corresponding to a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz of the RF spectrum, and a second frequency band ("5 GHz band") corresponding to a frequency range of approximately 5 GHz to 5.9 GHz of the RF spectrum. In one embodiment, one or more communication devices within the WLAN may also be configured for operation in a third frequency band ("6 GHz band") in the range of 6 GHz to 7 GHz. Each of the frequency bands includes a plurality of component channels, and in some embodiments, as described above, the component channels are combined within the respective frequency bands to generate a wider bandwidth channel. In embodiments corresponding to multi-channel operation with multiple communication channel segments aggregating to form an aggregated communication channel, at least some of the multiple channel segments are in different ones of the multiple frequency bands, or the multiple channel segments are in the same frequency band.

[0053] In one embodiment, the first WLAN communication protocol permits a wider variety of communication channel configurations than permitted by conventional WLAN communication protocols. For example, whereas conventional WLAN communication protocols permit certain combinations of component channels to form communication channels of certain bandwidths, the first WLAN communication protocol permits additional component channel combinations beyond those permitted by the conventional WLAN communication protocol. For example, whereas conventional WLAN communication protocols permit contiguous bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz, as well as a split frequency bandwidth of 80 + 80 MHz, in various embodiments, the first WLAN communication protocol additionally permits contiguous bandwidths of 60 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz, and 140 MHz, as well as split frequency bandwidths of 20 + 20 MHz, 20 + 40 MHz, 20 + 80 MHz, 40 + 40 MHz, 40 + 80 MHz, and so forth. By utilizing different frequency bandwidths, the first WLAN communication protocol allows for improved utilization of available spectrum, such as the ability to utilize a 20 + 40 MHz split frequency bandwidth channel, rather than just a single 20 MHz bandwidth channel or a single 40 MHz single frequency bandwidth channel.

[0054] In one embodiment, a communication device (e.g., AP 114, client station 154-1, etc.) configured to operate according to a first WLAN communication protocol includes multiple RF radios, wherein respective RF radios of the plurality of RF radios transmit / receive signals in respective RF channel segments of an aggregate communication channel. In some embodiments, the signals transmitted / received by respective RF radios of the plurality of RF radios are transmitted / received synchronously in contiguous or discontiguous channel segments. For example, a signal transmitted / received by a first RF radio in an 80 MHz wide channel segment and a signal in a 40 MHz wide channel segment are transmitted / received synchronously by a second RF radio, wherein in one embodiment, the 80 MHz wide and 40 MHz wide channel segments form a contiguous 120 MHz channel bandwidth, while in another embodiment, the 80 MHz wide and 40 MHz wide channel segments form a discontinuous 80+40 MHz channel bandwidth. In some embodiments, the signals transmitted / received by respective RF radios of the plurality of RF radios are transmitted / received asynchronously in contiguous or discontiguous channel segments. In other words, the signal transmitted or received by the first RF radio need not be synchronized in time with the signal transmitted or received by the second RF radio. In one embodiment, for example, a first RF radio of a communication device transmits a first signal while a second RF radio of the communication device simultaneously receives (or transmits) a second signal, wherein the second RF radio begins transmitting or receiving the second signal after the first RF radio has begun transmitting the first RF signal.

[0055] Figure 3A 3 is a diagram of an example system architecture 300 corresponding to a communication device configured for multi-channel operation (e.g., simultaneous transmission or reception over two or more aggregated communication channels) according to one embodiment. For example, in one embodiment, the system architecture 300 is configured for transmission / reception over aggregated communication channels. In one embodiment, the system architecture 300 corresponds to the AP 114. In another embodiment, the system architecture 300 corresponds to the client station 154-1. In various embodiments, the system architecture 300 is configured for simultaneous transmission and / or reception over the aggregated communication channels. In one embodiment, the system architecture 300 is configured for synchronous transmission and / or reception over the aggregated communication channels. In one embodiment, the system architecture 300 is configured for asynchronous transmission and / or reception over the aggregated communication channels. In another embodiment, the system architecture is configured for both synchronous transmission and / or reception and asynchronous transmission and / or reception over the aggregated communication channels.

[0056] In one embodiment, system architecture 300 is configured to operate over two communication channel segments and includes a forwarding processor 304. Communication device 300 also includes a single MAC processor 308, a first PHY processor 316, and a second PHY processor 320. The single MAC processor 308 is coupled to the first PHY processor 316 and the second PHY processor 320. The single MAC processor 308 is configured to exchange frames with multiple PHY processors (e.g., the first PHY processor 316 and the second PHY processor 320), rather than communicating only with a single PHY processor and the radio. In one embodiment, this enables system architecture 300 to simultaneously generate and transmit multiple PPDUs in different RF bands. In one embodiment, the MAC layer has an interface (e.g., a data service access point (SAP) interface) to a layer above the MAC layer (e.g., a logical link control layer or a network layer in the Open Systems Interconnection model). In another embodiment, the interface between the MAC layer and the layer above the MAC layer (i.e., the data SAP interface) is integral to the MAC layer.

[0057] In some embodiments, a single MAC processor 308 corresponds to Figure 1 In one embodiment, for example, a single MAC processor 308 includes one or more multi-band backoff timers 127. In one embodiment, the first PHY processor 316 and the second PHY processor 320 correspond to Figure 1 PHY processor 130 or 170.

[0058] In some embodiments, MAC processor 308 is implemented as distinct portions, e.g., a higher layer portion that interfaces with forwarding processor 304, and a lower layer portion that interfaces with PHY processors 316 and 320. In one embodiment, the lower layer portion is implemented as separate portions, e.g., a first lower layer portion that interfaces with PHY processor 316, and a second lower layer portion that interfaces with PHY processor 320.

[0059] The first PHY processor 316 includes a first baseband signal processor 324 (Baseband-1) coupled to a first RF radio 328 (Radio-1). The second PHY processor 320 includes a second baseband signal processor 332 (Baseband-2) coupled to a second RF radio 336 (Radio-2). In one embodiment, the RF radios 328 and 336 correspond to Figure 1In one embodiment, the RF radio 328 is configured to operate on a first RF frequency band, and the RF radio 336 is configured to operate on a second RF frequency band. In another embodiment, the RF radio 328 and the RF radio 336 are both configured to operate on the same RF frequency band.

[0060] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 308 generates and parses data corresponding to MAC layer data units (e.g., frames) into multiple data streams corresponding to corresponding communication channel segments. In one embodiment, frames can be dynamically sent in any channel segment, i.e., without the need for band switching negotiation. The MAC processor 308 provides the parsed data streams to baseband-1 324 and baseband-2 332. Baseband-1 324 and baseband-2 332 are configured to receive the corresponding data streams from the MAC processor 308 and encapsulate and encode the corresponding data streams to generate corresponding baseband signals corresponding to the PPDU. Figure 3A In the illustrated embodiment, MAC processor 308 is configured to transmit each MPDU using either PHY processor 316 or PHY processor 320, rather than both PHY processors. In other words, a single MPDU is transmitted only within a single frequency band, but different MPDUs can be transmitted simultaneously in different frequency bands.

[0061] In one embodiment, the respective baseband signals have different bandwidths. Baseband-1 324 and baseband-2 332 provide the respective baseband signals to radio-1 328 and radio-2 336. Radio-1 328 and radio-2 336 upconvert the respective baseband signals to generate respective RF signals for transmission via a first channel segment and a second channel segment, respectively. Radio-1 328 transmits the first RF signal via the first channel segment, and radio-2 336 transmits the second RF signal via the second channel segment.

[0062] In some embodiments, communication device 300 further includes synchronization control circuitry 340. Synchronization control circuitry 340 is configured to ensure that signals transmitted via the first channel segment and the second channel segment, respectively, are synchronized. Synchronization control circuitry 340 is coupled to baseband-1 324 and baseband-2 332 to ensure that the respective baseband signals are synchronized in time.

[0063] Radio-1 328 and Radio-2 336 are further configured to receive corresponding RF signals via a first channel segment and a second channel segment, respectively. Radio-1 328 and Radio-2 336 generate corresponding baseband signals corresponding to the received signals. In one embodiment, the generated baseband signals have different bandwidths. The generated baseband signals are provided to corresponding baseband signal processors, Baseband-1 324 and Baseband-2 332. Baseband-1 324 and Baseband-2 332 generate corresponding data streams, which are provided to MAC processor 308. MAC processor 308 processes the corresponding data streams. In one embodiment, MAC processor 308 parses the data streams received from Baseband-1 324 and Baseband-2 332 into a single information bit stream.

[0064] In one embodiment, the forwarding processor 304 is omitted and the MAC processor 308 is coupled to another suitable processor (e.g., the host processor 118 ( Figure 1 )), which performs one or more higher-level operations corresponding to data transmission and reception. For example, in one embodiment, another processor performs one or more operations corresponding to layer 3 (layer3) and higher layers as characterized in the OSI model.

[0065] Figure 3B FIG3 is a diagram of an example system architecture 350 corresponding to a communication device configured for multi-channel operation (e.g., simultaneously transmitting or receiving over two or more aggregated communication channels) according to another embodiment. For example, in one embodiment, the system architecture 350 is configured for synchronous and / or asynchronous transmission / reception over the aggregated communication channels. In one embodiment, the system architecture 350 corresponds to the AP 114. In another embodiment, the system architecture 350 corresponds to the client station 154-1.

[0066] System Architecture 350 is similar to Figure 3A The system architecture 300 is shown in FIG. 3 and for the sake of brevity, like numbered elements are not discussed in detail. The communication device 350 includes a single MAC processor 358 coupled to a PHY processor 366. The single MAC processor 358 exchanges frames with the PHY processor 366. In one embodiment, the single MAC processor 358 corresponds to Figure 1 MAC processor 126. In another embodiment, a single MAC processor 358 corresponds to Figure 1 MAC processor 166. In one embodiment, the PHY processor 366 corresponds to Figure 1 In another embodiment, the PHY processor 366 corresponds to Figure 1The PHY processor 366 includes a single baseband signal processor 374. The single baseband signal processor 374 is coupled to the radio-1 328 and the radio-2 336.

[0067] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 358 generates data corresponding to a MAC layer data unit (e.g., a frame) and provides the frame to the baseband signal processor 374. The baseband signal processor 374 is configured to receive the frame from the MAC processor 358 and parse the data corresponding to the frame into multiple bit streams. The baseband signal processor 374 is also configured to encapsulate and encode the corresponding bit streams to generate corresponding baseband signals corresponding to the PPDU. In one embodiment, the corresponding baseband signals have different bandwidths. The baseband signal processor 374 provides the corresponding baseband signals to radio-1 328 and radio-2 336. Radio-1 328 and radio-2 336 upconvert the corresponding baseband signals to generate corresponding RF signals for transmission via a first channel segment and a second channel segment, respectively. Radio-1 820 transmits a first RF signal via the first channel segment, and radio-2 336 transmits a second RF signal via the second channel segment.

[0068] The baseband signal processor 374 is configured to ensure that the signals transmitted via the first and second channel segments are synchronized. For example, the baseband signal processor 374 is configured to generate the corresponding baseband signals such that the corresponding baseband signals are synchronized in time. In one embodiment, for example, the baseband signals are synchronized such that the start and end times of two different RF signals corresponding to the first and second PPDUs are simultaneous.

[0069] Radio-1 328 and Radio-2 336 are further configured to receive corresponding RF signals via a first channel segment and a second channel segment, respectively. Radio-1 328 and Radio-2 336 generate corresponding baseband signals corresponding to the received signals. In one embodiment, the generated baseband signals have different bandwidths. The generated baseband signals are provided to a baseband signal processor 374. The baseband signal processor 374 generates a corresponding bit stream and deparses the bit stream into a data stream corresponding to a frame. The baseband signal processor 374 provides the frame to the MAC processor 358. The MAC processor 358 processes the frame.

[0070] exist Figure 3B In the illustrated embodiment, MAC processor 358 is configured to transmit the MPDU using only one PHY processor, or using both PHY processor 316 and PHY processor 326. In other words, a single MPDU may span multiple frequency bands or a single frequency band.

[0071] As discussed above, in one embodiment, the operating communication channel of a communication device in WLAN 110 is divided into a plurality of smaller component channels. In one embodiment, at least one of the smaller component channels is designated as a primary channel, while the remaining component channels are secondary channels. In one embodiment, as described above, the primary channel is used for both management transmissions and data transmissions, while the secondary channel is used for both data transmissions and management transmissions. A communication device operating in WLAN 110 (e.g., AP 114 or client station 154-1) utilizes at least one of the smaller component channels designated as the primary channel for various operations, such as for transmitting various management transmissions (e.g., transmissions for associating client station 154 with AP 114, beacon transmissions by AP 114, operating channel bandwidth switch announcement transmissions, etc.), for performing clear channel assessment (CCA) procedures, etc.

[0072] In one embodiment, an aggregate operating channel for a communication device (e.g., AP 114 or client station 154-1) includes multiple primary channels. For example, in an embodiment where a first channel segment is aggregated with a second channel segment to form an aggregate communication channel, a first component channel in the first channel segment is designated as the first primary channel of the aggregate communication channel, and a second component channel in the second channel segment is designated as the second primary channel of the aggregate communication channel. In certain scenarios, designating a primary channel in each channel segment promotes compatibility and fairness when sharing a channel segment with communication devices that do not support multi-channel operation. For example, where each primary channel has a backoff timer, the backoff timer can reduce the likelihood of a channel segment being monopolized. In another embodiment, an aggregate communication channel for a communication device (e.g., AP 114 or client station 154-1) includes a single primary channel. For example, in an embodiment where a first channel segment is aggregated with a second channel segment to form an aggregate communication channel, a component channel in one of the first channel segment and the second channel segment is designated as the primary channel of the aggregate communication channel. In this embodiment, the other of the first channel segment and the second channel segment does not include a primary channel.

[0073] Figure 4is a diagram of an example operating channel 400 according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the operating channel 400 corresponds to an operating channel of the AP 114, or an operating channel of a basic service set (BSS) supported by the AP 114. In another embodiment, the operating channel 400 corresponds to an operating channel of a client station 154 (e.g., client station 154-1). In other embodiments, the operating channel 400 is employed by a communication device (e.g., an AP or a client station) in a suitable communication network different from the WLAN 110. An operating channel such as the operating channel 400 that corresponds to an operating channel of the AP, or an operating channel of a BSS supported by the AP, is sometimes referred to herein as an "AP operating channel" or a "BSS operating channel." An operating channel such as the operating channel 400 that corresponds to an operating channel of a client station is sometimes referred to herein as a "STA operating channel." Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the operating channel 400 corresponds to the AP 114, a first client station STA1, and a second client station STA2.

[0074] The operating channel 400 includes a first channel segment 410 aggregated with a second channel segment 420. The first channel segment 410 occupies a first frequency bandwidth and includes a first number of component channels, and the second channel segment 420 occupies a second frequency bandwidth and includes a second number of component channels. In various embodiments, the first bandwidth of the first channel segment 410 and the second bandwidth of the second channel segment 420 are equal or unequal. In various embodiments, the first number of component channels of the first channel segment 410 and the second number of component channels of the second channel segment 420 are equal or unequal.

[0075] In one embodiment, the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 are not adjacent in frequency (e.g., not contiguous). For example, there is a frequency gap between the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420. In various embodiments, the gap is at least 500 kHz, at least 1 MHz, at least 5 MHz, at least 20 MHz, etc. In some embodiments, the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 are in different frequency bands, such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. In other embodiments, other suitable frequency bands (e.g., 60 GHz, "sub-1 GHz" or 900 MHz, 3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, etc.) are utilized. In another embodiment, the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 are adjacent in frequency (e.g., contiguous). In this embodiment, there is no frequency gap between the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420.

[0076] In one example embodiment, the first channel segment 410 has an 80 MHz bandwidth, and the second channel segment 420 has an 80 MHz bandwidth. In embodiments where the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 are not adjacent in frequency, the operating channel 400 is sometimes referred to as an 80+80 MHz channel. On the other hand, in embodiments where the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 are adjacent in frequency, the operating channel 400 is sometimes referred to as a 160 MHz channel. Generally, similar to an operating channel 400 where the first and second channel segments are not adjacent in frequency, the aggregate communication channel is referred to as a (the bandwidth of the first channel segment) + (the bandwidth of the second channel segment) channel. On the other hand, similar to an operating channel 400 where the first and second channel segments are adjacent in frequency or where the second channel segment 420 is omitted (i.e., the second channel segment 420 has a 0 MHz bandwidth), the aggregate communication channel 400 is referred to as a (the sum of the bandwidth of the first and second channel segments) channel. In one embodiment, valid channel configurations for the aggregate communication channel 400 include: 20 MHz channels, 40 MHz channels, 60 MHz channels, 80 MHz channels, 100 MHz, 120 MHz channels, 140 MHz channels, 160 MHz channels, 320 MHz channels, 20+40 MHz channels, 20+80 MHz channels, 40+80 MHz channels, 20+160 MHz, 40+320 MHz, etc. In one embodiment, the respective bandwidth of each channel segment 410, 420 is selected from a set of possible channel bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz. In other embodiments, other suitable sets of possible bandwidths are utilized.

[0077] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the operating channels 400 include a single primary channel per channel segment. For example, in one embodiment, the AP 114 designates a single component channel of the first channel segment 410 as a primary channel and a single component channel of the second channel segment 420 as a primary channel. In the illustrated embodiment, the first component channel of the first channel segment 410 is designated as a first primary channel 412, and the second component channel of the second channel segment is designated as a second primary channel 413. In some embodiments, the operating channels 400 include more than two primary channels. For example, in some embodiments, more than two component channels of the operating channels 400 are designated as primary channels.

[0078] In one embodiment, the operating channel 400 also includes secondary channels. In one embodiment, the AP 114 designates each component channel in the first channel segment 410 and the second channel segment 420 that is not designated as a primary channel as a secondary channel. In the illustrated embodiment, the first channel segment 410 includes three secondary channels 414, and the second channel segment 420 includes three secondary channels 424. In other embodiments, the first channel segment 410 and / or the second channel segment 420 include another suitable number of secondary channels 414, 424 (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.). In some embodiments, the number of secondary channels 414 in the first channel segment 410 is not equal to the number of secondary channels 424 in the second channel segment 414.

[0079] In some embodiments, AP 114 designates primary channels in certain frequency bands, but not in all frequency bands. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 designates primary channels for the 5 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz band, but does not designate a primary channel for the 6 GHz band, where each of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands forms part of the operating channel. In another embodiment, each component channel of the operating channel is designated as a primary channel.

[0080] In some embodiments, the AP 114 generates one or more MAC data units to include: i) a first primary channel indication indicating a first position of the first primary channel in the first channel segment 410 , and ii) a second primary channel indication indicating a second position of the second primary channel in the second channel segment 420 .

[0081] In some embodiments, AP 114 changes one or more of the primary channels to different component channels within operating channels 400. In one embodiment, for example, MAC processor 126 of AP 114 designates the second component channel previously designated as the secondary channel as the second primary channel and designates the first primary channel as the secondary channel. In one embodiment, for example, prior to designating second component channel 414-2 as the second primary channel, AP 114 utilizes first primary channel 412 for transmitting or receiving at least one of the MPDUs via the first component channel.

[0082] In one embodiment, legacy client stations compliant with the legacy protocol do not support operating channels in multiple channel segments or operating channels with multiple primary channels. In some embodiments, to facilitate interoperability of the AP 114 with the legacy client stations, the first communication protocol does not permit multiple primary channels in the AP operating channel when the AP operating channel is also supported by the legacy protocol. Thus, in one embodiment, the AP 114 is configured to operate with an AP operating channel comprising a single primary channel when the operating channel is also permitted by the legacy protocol, and is configured to operate with an AP operating channel comprising multiple primary channels when the operating channel is not permitted by the legacy protocol.

[0083] In some embodiments, an operating channel of a client station (e.g., client station 154-1) has a bandwidth narrower than the bandwidth of an operating channel of AP 114. In one embodiment, a client station 154 (e.g., client station 154-1) operating with an operating channel narrower than the operating channel of AP 114 is permitted to operate anywhere within the operating channel of AP 114. For example, client station 154-1 is permitted to operate with an operating channel that does not overlap the primary channel of AP 114. In another embodiment, a client station 154 (e.g., client station 154-1) operating with an operating channel narrower than the operating channel of AP 114 is not permitted to operate with an operating channel that does not overlap the primary channel of AP 114. In this embodiment, an operating channel of a client station 154 (e.g., client station 154-1) operating with an operating channel narrower than the operating channel of AP 114 operates at a location within the operating channel of AP 114 that overlaps at least one primary channel of AP 114 (e.g., client station STA2 operates on channels 413 and 424-3).

[0084] In some embodiments, the AP 114 designates channel segments of the operating channel 400 as a "working" or "main" frequency band and a "secondary" frequency band. In one embodiment, for example, the AP 114 designates the first channel segment 410 as the main frequency band and the second channel segment 420 as the secondary frequency band. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and the client station 154 use the secondary frequency band for transmitting or receiving acknowledgment frames, block acknowledgment frames, channel sounding information, channel sounding feedback, link adaptation frames, or other management frames, while using the primary frequency band for transmitting data frames. In some embodiments, the AP 114 and the client station 154 prioritize the primary frequency band for data frames only and prioritize the secondary frequency band for management frames. In one embodiment, for example, when the buffer size of queued data reaches a predetermined threshold and higher bandwidth is desired, the AP 114 utilizes both the primary frequency band and the secondary frequency band to transmit data frames.

[0085] In some embodiments, the AP 114 and the client station 154 are configured to use the primary frequency band for high priority frames and the secondary frequency band for lower priority frames. In various embodiments, the priority of the data frame is based on the frame's traffic identifier (TID), the frame's traffic class (TC), the frame's quality of service (QoS) level, or other suitable characteristics. In one embodiment, the AP 114 uses a trigger frame in the primary frequency band or the secondary frequency band to request transmission from the client station. In one embodiment, the client station 154 uses an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) method to transmit frames in the primary frequency band or the secondary frequency band. In one embodiment, the AP 114 is configured to not allow or disable the use of the EDCA method in some frequency bands (e.g., in the primary frequency band).

[0086] In some embodiments where AP 114 prioritizes the primary frequency band for data frames, AP 114 and client station 154 are configured to transmit acknowledgments for data frames on the secondary frequency band (i.e., data frames received on the primary frequency band are acknowledged on the secondary frequency band). In some embodiments, AP 114 and client station 154 also send buffer status reports, channel availability reports, and sounding feedback on the secondary frequency band. In various embodiments, AP 114 uses trigger frames in the secondary frequency band to poll client station 154 for acknowledgment frames, buffer status reports, or channel availability reports. In other embodiments, client station 154 automatically sends acknowledgment frames, buffer status reports, channel availability reports, or sounding feedback to AP 114 in the secondary frequency band. In one embodiment, client station 154 performs a backoff procedure on the secondary frequency band before sending an acknowledgment frame, buffer status report, or channel availability report. In another embodiment, client station 154 checks whether the secondary frequency band is idle for a predetermined period of time (e.g., a distributed control function interframe space, an arbitrary interframe space) before sending an acknowledgment frame, buffer status report, or channel availability report. In another embodiment, the AP 114 performs a backoff procedure or checks whether the auxiliary frequency band is idle before sending the trigger frame.

[0087] In another embodiment in which the AP 114 prioritizes the primary frequency band for data frames, the AP 114 and the client stations 154 are configured to send acknowledgments for the data frames on the frequency band in which the data frames were received (data frames received on the primary frequency band are acknowledged on the primary frequency band, and data frames received on the secondary frequency band are acknowledged on the secondary frequency band).

[0088] In some embodiments, a communication device (e.g., AP 114 and / or client station 154) performs a media access procedure (e.g., clear channel access) before utilizing a component channel. In one embodiment, a communication device performs different media access procedures for component channels in different frequency bands within the same BSS. In one embodiment, for example, a communication device performs a first media access procedure for a first component channel and performs a second media access procedure for a second component channel in a different frequency band than the first component channel. In one embodiment, a communication device utilizes the same association procedures (e.g., block ACK negotiation, key negotiation, target wake time negotiation) across component channels of the BSS, but utilizes different media access procedures.

[0089] In some scenarios, the AP 114 or client station 154 cannot decode the data portion of a packet currently being received on one of the frequency bands, for example due to issues with the BSS color, AID, downlink / uplink indication, or other decoded fields in the packet's PHY header. In one embodiment, the AP 114 and client station 154 are configured to send a negative acknowledgement (NAK) to the transmitter of the packet in the secondary frequency band to cause the transmitter to stop sending the packet before completing the transmission. In this way, the media is freed up and can be used more quickly for another transmission.

[0090] In other embodiments, the AP 114 does not designate a channel segment of the operating channel 400 as a primary or secondary frequency band. In one embodiment, when a data frame or trigger frame is transmitted in a first frequency band, transmission of secondary information (e.g., an acknowledgment, a requested QoS data frame, or a management frame) is performed in a second, different frequency band. In another embodiment, the secondary information is transmitted in the same frequency band as the data frame or trigger frame. In one embodiment, the AP 114 and the client station 154 are configured to transmit QoS data frames from a single TID within any frequency band of the operating channel 400. In one embodiment, for example, a single TID value is designated as a priority TID, and the priority TID can be transmitted via any frequency band of the operating channel 400.

[0091] In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to use a single MAC address for all channel segments of the operating channel 400. In other words, packets 410 received (or sent) on the first segment 410 are addressed to (or from) the first MAC address, and packets received (or sent) on the second segment 420 are also addressed to (or from) the first MAC address. In these embodiments, retransmission of packets is simplified because packets can be retransmitted in the same channel segment or a different channel segment without changing the MAC address. In one embodiment, for example, the AP 114 sends a first MPDU to the client station 154 via the first segment 410, and after a negative acknowledgment or no acknowledgment of the first MPDU, the AP 114 retransmits the first MPDU to the client station 154 via the second segment 420 using the same MAC address of the client station 154 (e.g., as the destination address) and / or using the same MAC address of the AP 114 (e.g., as the source address). In one such embodiment, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 Figure 3A or Figure 3B As shown, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured with a single MAC processor 308 or 358 utilizing a single MAC address.

[0092] In some embodiments, the AP 114 and / or the client station 154 are configured to utilize different MAC addresses for different channel segments of the operating channel 400. In other words, a first packet received (or sent) on the first segment 410 is addressed to (or from) a first MAC address associated with the first channel segment, and a second packet received (or sent) on the second segment 420 concurrently with the first packet is addressed to (or from) a different second MAC address associated with the second channel segment. In one embodiment, for example, referring to Figure 3A , the MAC processor 308 is implemented as two separate MAC processors coupled to respective PHY processors (e.g., a first MAC processor 308-1 coupled to the first PHY processor 316, and a second MAC processor 308-2 coupled to the second PHY processor 320). In one embodiment, for example, the AP 114 transmits a first MPDU (with a first MAC address of the client station 154 as a destination address) to the client station 154 via the first segment 410, and after a negative acknowledgement or no acknowledgement of the first MPDU, the AP 114 retransmits the first MPDU (with a second MAC address of the client station 154 as a destination address) to the client station 154 via the second segment 420.

[0093] In some embodiments, a communication device (e.g., AP 114 or client station 154) that supports an operating channel that combines multiple component channels enters a power save mode only on some of the component channels. In one embodiment, for example, client station 154 associates a first PHY processor (e.g., PHY processor 316) with a first channel segment (e.g., segment 410) of the operating channel and associates a second PHY processor (e.g., PHY processor 320) with a second channel segment (e.g., segment 420) of the operating channel. In some embodiments, client station 154 causes the first PHY processor to enter power save mode while the second PHY processor is in active mode. In one embodiment, client station 154 causes only the transceiver and / or RF radio of the first PHY processor to enter power save mode while the second PHY processor is in active mode. Because both PHY processors are associated with the operating channel, client station 154 is still able to communicate with AP 114 via the second PHY processor and also has reduced power consumption (e.g., from a battery (not shown)) due to the first PHY processor being in power save mode.

[0094] In one embodiment, client station 154 (e.g., via a first PHY processor) generates a first PPDU that instructs the first transceiver to enter power save mode. In one embodiment, the first PPDU is a null data frame having a power management bit set to "1" within a frame control field (not shown). For example, client station 154 transmits the first PPDU to AP 114 to announce entry into power save mode. To return from power save mode to active mode, client station 154 transmits a second PPDU, such as a power save poll frame, to AP 114. In some embodiments, when client station 154 changes its mode from active mode to power save mode, or vice versa, the mode change applies to each frequency band of the operating channel. In other words, client station 154 transmits the first PPDU (null data frame) to AP 114 in either first channel segment 410 or second channel segment 420, and client station 154 then enters power save mode on both channel segments.

[0095] In another embodiment, when the client station 154 changes its mode from active mode to power save mode, or vice versa, the mode change applies only to the frequency band of the operating channel in which the first PPDU is sent. In one embodiment, for example, the client station 154 sends the first PPDU to the AP 114 via the first primary channel 412 of the first segment 410 via the first PHY processor 316, causing the first PHY processor 316 to enter power save mode and continue to communicate with the AP 114 via the second channel segment 420 using the second PHY processor 320. In some embodiments, the AP 114 sends frames buffered for the client station 154 at the AP 114 to the client station 154 using any channel segment that is not in power save mode.

[0096] In some embodiments, the multi-band AP 114 or the multi-band client station 154 (e.g., a device supporting multiple frequency bands) dynamically enters a power save mode on only some frequency bands for reduced power consumption. In one embodiment, the multi-band AP or multi-band client station exits power save mode on one or more frequency bands and enters active mode to provide improved throughput. In one embodiment, the multi-band AP or multi-band client station changes its operating channel bandwidth. In various embodiments, the multi-band AP or multi-band client station uses one or more of the information elements of a management frame, an extremely high throughput (EHT) variant of a high throughput (HT) control field, and a high efficiency (HE) variant of a HT control field to indicate entry into power save mode, entry into active mode, and / or a change in operating channel bandwidth.

[0097] In some embodiments, the number of channel segments in the BSS's operating channel is greater than the number of channel segments allowed in a PPDU. In other words, in an example where AP 114 provides a BSS with a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHz band, and a 6 GHz band, AP 114 is configured to generate a PPDU that uses a maximum of two frequency bands (e.g., the 5 GHz band and the 6 GHz band). In one embodiment, AP 114 independently transmits in the two frequency bands. In other words, AP 114 performs frame exchanges in different frequency bands (e.g., the 5 GHz band and the 6 GHz band), wherein signals transmitted / received by respective RF radios in the different frequency bands are transmitted / received asynchronously in the channel segments. In some embodiments, frame exchanges in different frequency bands have the same initiating device (e.g., AP 114) and responding device (e.g., client station 154). In other embodiments, frame exchanges in different frequency bands have different initiating devices and responding devices.

[0098] In some embodiments, AP 114 transmits simultaneously within two frequency bands. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 transmits a first PPDU to client station 154 in first channel segment 410 while simultaneously transmitting a second PPDU to client station 154 in second channel segment 420. In other words, the first PPDU and the second PPDU have the same start time, the same PHY header length, and the same end time. In some scenarios, transmitting the first PPDU and the second PPDU on different channel segments allows for a shorter duration of transmission, which reduces congestion in at least one of the channel segments. In one embodiment, AP 114 uses the same value for one or more of the modulation and coding scheme (MCS), number of spatial streams (NSS), or other suitable parameters across the different channel segments, for example, in some scenarios to reduce the number of parameters that need to be managed by AP 114. In another embodiment, AP 114 utilizes a first value for a parameter in the first channel segment that is different from a second value for the parameter in the second channel segment. In some scenarios, for example, when the first channel segment has a higher signal-to-noise ratio, utilizing different values of the parameters allows for more efficient use of the channel segments by using a higher MCS value in the first channel segment (i.e., providing a higher data rate) and using a lower MCS value in the second channel segment (i.e., providing a lower data rate but improved decodability).

[0099] In one embodiment, AP 114 transmits simultaneously in two frequency bands and is configured to use the two frequency bands as a single logical MAC channel. In other words, AP 114 maps the first portion of the MPDU to a PPDU in first channel segment 410 and the second portion of the MPDU to a PPDU in second channel segment 420. In another embodiment, AP 114 transmits simultaneously in two frequency bands but is configured to use the two frequency bands as separate MAC channels. In other words, AP 114 generates multiple MPDUs and generates a first PPDU for first channel segment 410 and a second PPDU for second channel segment 420, such that corresponding MPDUs in the multiple MPDUs are included in only one of the first and second PPDUs. In one embodiment, AP 114 generates MPDUs with the same traffic identifier (TID) for simultaneous transmission in multiple frequency bands. In another embodiment and / or scenario, AP 114 generates MPDUs with different TIDs for simultaneous transmission in multiple frequency bands.

[0100] Figure 5A and Figure 5B5 are example timing diagrams 500 and 550 for a WLAN communication device configured to utilize multiple component channels of a WLAN communication channel 502, in one embodiment. In one embodiment, operating channel 502 corresponds to the operating channel of AP 114 or the operating channel of a basic service set (BSS) supported by AP 114. In one embodiment, operating channel 502 corresponds to the operating channel of client station 154 (e.g., client station 154-1). In other embodiments, operating channel 502 is employed by a communication device (e.g., an AP or client station) in a suitable communication network different from WLAN 110. Operating channel 502 is similar to operating channel 400, but includes four component channels, Ch0, Ch1, Ch2, and Ch3, and has one primary channel (i.e., Ch0). In other embodiments, operating channel 502 has multiple primary channels (e.g., Ch2 is also a primary channel). Although the component channels are shown as contiguous, in other embodiments, as described above, one or more of the component channels are located in different frequency bands, separated by a frequency gap, and / or have one (or more) primary channels in each frequency band. In one embodiment, for example, component channels ChO and Ch1 are located in a channel segment within a 5 GHz frequency band, and component channels Ch2 and Ch3 are located in a channel segment within a 6 GHz frequency band.

[0101] Before sending an MPDU via the operating channel 502, the AP 114 performs a backoff procedure that includes waiting for a backoff timer corresponding to the primary channel to expire. The backoff timer facilitates sharing the operating channel 502 with other communication devices, where each communication device waits a different length of time before attempting to use the operating channel 502. In various embodiments, the backoff timer is set based on a group of corresponding backoff parameters, such as, for each access category (AC) (i.e., one of AC_BE (Best Effort), AC_BK (Background), AC_VI (Video), AC_VO (Voice)), a backoff timer (e.g., an instance of backoff timer 516), a contention window CW, a contention window minimum (CWmin), a contention window maximum (CWmax), a time slot, an arbitrary interframe spacing number (AIFSN), a quality of service short retry counter (QSRC), and a quality of service long retry counter (QLRC).

[0102] exist Figure 5AIn the embodiment shown in FIG, AP 114 designates component channel Ch0 as a primary channel over operating channel 502, corresponding to backoff timer 506, and designates component channels Ch1, Ch2, and Ch3 as secondary channels. In other embodiments, AP 114 uses additional or fewer primary channels over different suitable operating channels. In one embodiment, component channels Ch0 and Ch1 are in a first frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz), component channels Ch2 and Ch3 are in a different second frequency band (e.g., 6 GHz), AP 114 designates the first frequency band as a primary frequency band, and designates the second frequency band as a secondary frequency band.

[0103] In one embodiment, AP 114 checks the idle / busy status of secondary channels (e.g., component channels Ch1, Ch2, and Ch3) before performing a transmission when backoff timer 506 expires. When one or more other component channels are idle within a suitable time period (e.g., point control function interframe space, distributed control function interframe space) before backoff timer 506 expires, AP 114 performs, schedules, or triggers an uplink or downlink transmission in the one or more idle component channels. In one embodiment, AP 114 checks the idle status of a secondary channel only after determining that the backoff timer for the corresponding primary channel has expired. In some embodiments, the backoff timer for any frequency band can be used to back off simultaneous transmissions on multiple frequency bands (channel segments).

[0104] In some embodiments, AP 114 utilizes only those idle component channels that satisfy corresponding channel bounding rules for transmission. Figure 5A In the illustrated embodiment, AP 114 determines that component channel Ch2 is busy and component channels Ch0, Ch1, and Ch3 are idle, but channel constraint rules do not allow punctured PPDUs. In this embodiment, PHY processor 130 of AP 114 transmits an unpunctured downlink PPDU 540 and receives an unpunctured uplink PPDU 542 that utilizes only component channels Ch0 and Ch1. After the exchange of PPDUs 540 and 542, AP 114 sets the contention window of backoff timer 506 to CWmin to indicate a successful frame exchange.

[0105] exist Figure 5BIn the illustrated embodiment, AP 114 determines that component channel Ch2 is busy, component channels Ch0, Ch1, and Ch3 are idle, and that the channel constraint rules allow for the interrupted PPDU. In this embodiment, AP 114 transmits an interrupted downlink PPDU 590 and receives an uninterrupted uplink PPDU 592, which utilizes component channels Ch0, Ch1, and Ch3. After the exchange of PPDUs 590 and 592, AP 114 sets the contention window of backoff timer 506 to CWmin to indicate a successful frame exchange.

[0106] In various embodiments, the AP 114 indicates the frequency bands used to transmit PPDUs such as PPDUs 540 and 590. In one embodiment, the AP 114 sets the EHT PHY SIG field (e.g., field 232) in the PHY header of each component channel to indicate the frequency bands used for the PPDUs, and the channel segments within those frequency bands. In one embodiment, for example, the AP 114 sets the corresponding EHT PHY SIG field in each of the component channels Ch0, Ch1, and Ch3 to indicate the frequency bands used for the PPDUs. Figure 5B In the illustrated embodiment, the AP 114 includes i) the primary frequency band, ii) component channels Ch0 and Ch1, iii) the secondary frequency band, and iv) component channel Ch3. In another embodiment, the AP 114 sends a control frame (not shown) before sending the PPDU 540, which indicates the frequency band and its component channels to be used for the PPDUs 540 and 542 (or PPDUs 590 and 592). In yet another embodiment, the AP 114 sets the EHT PHY SIG field (e.g., field 232) in the PHY header of each component channel to indicate the channel segments in the corresponding frequency band to be used for the PPDU. In one embodiment, for example, Figure 5B In the illustrated embodiment, the AP 114 sets the corresponding EHT PHY SIG fields in the component channels Ch0 and Ch1 to indicate the component channels Ch0 and Ch1, and sets the EHT PHYSIG field in the component channel Ch3 to indicate the component channel Ch3.

[0107] In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the AP 114 is configured to utilize only a single frequency band even when components within different frequency bands are idle. In one embodiment, for example, when a legacy STA or a single-band STA (e.g., a client station 154 that is not configured to utilize multiple frequency bands simultaneously) initiates a transmit opportunity, the AP 114 utilizes only a single frequency band (e.g., the primary frequency band). In another embodiment, when the responding client stations are all associated with a single frequency band, the AP 114 utilizes only a single frequency band (e.g., the primary frequency band or the secondary frequency band). In some cases, when the AP 114 uses a single frequency band for a first frame exchange (e.g., a transmission to a legacy STA or a single-band STA), the AP 114 uses a different frequency band for a second frame exchange. In various embodiments and / or scenarios, the second frame exchange is within the same BSS, from the same initiating device, or from a different initiating device.

[0108] In some embodiments, the AP 114 utilizes the same PHY parameters and / or MAC parameters (such as MCS values, NSS values, and BW values) for simultaneously transmitting PPDUs across multiple frequency bands to a single client station. For example, when transmitting to the same device, the AP 114 sets at least some of the PHY parameters corresponding to component channels Ch0 and Ch1, and at least some of the PHY parameters corresponding to component channel Ch3 to the same respective values. Figure 5B In the illustrated embodiment, for example, AP 114 generates PPDU 590-1 in the secondary frequency band to have the same MCS value and NSS value as PPDU 590-2 in the primary frequency band. In another embodiment, for example, AP 114 generates PPDU 590-1 in the secondary frequency band to have a different MCS value and / or NSS value than PPDU 590-2 in the primary frequency band. In some embodiments, AP 114 sets at least some PHY parameters for specific frequency bands to be the same, while those PHY parameters are different for other frequency bands. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 uses the same values for MCS and NSS in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands, but uses different values in the 2 GHz frequency band.

[0109] In some embodiments, AP 114 advertises support for one or more PHY parameters and / or MAC parameters (such as MCS, NSS, and BW values) to client stations. In one embodiment, AP 114 advertises the MCS value and NSS value supported by AP 114 for each of its supported frequency bands, which may be the same or different values. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 advertises support for a first MCS value and a second MCS value in a primary frequency band, but only supports the second MCS value in a secondary frequency band. In some embodiments, AP 114 advertises the supported PHY parameters in a separate management frame within each supported frequency band (e.g., in a separate beacon frame within each supported frequency band). In one embodiment, a beacon frame includes only the PHY parameters supported for the frequency band in which the beacon frame is transmitted. In another embodiment, a beacon frame includes the supported PHY parameters for each frequency band supported by AP 114. In some embodiments, AP 114 combines the advertisements of PHY parameters for several frequency bands. In other words, AP 114 generates and transmits a single management frame that announces one or more PHY parameters and / or MAC parameters. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 announces MCS values, NSS values, and BW values for the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands in the same beacon frame, but uses a separate beacon frame to announce MCS values, NSS values, and BW values for the 2.4 GHz band. In some embodiments, AP 114 generates and transmits a single management frame that announces one or more PHY parameters and / or MAC parameters, including different values for some parameters for different frequency bands and the same value (or a single value) for other parameters for different frequency bands. In one embodiment, the single management frame announces different values for MCS parameters, NSS parameters, DCM parameters, and BW parameters for different frequency bands. In one embodiment, the single management frame announces that other parameters (e.g., TWT, SM power saving, security, multiple BSSIDs, or other parameters) are the same for the frequency bands supported by AP 114.

[0110] In some embodiments, AP 114 uses an EHT PPDU to transmit a beacon frame in a primary component channel of the primary frequency band. In one embodiment, an EHT operation element (not shown) of the beacon frame indicates the primary component channel, the BW of the primary frequency band including the primary component channel, and any secondary frequency bands (e.g., those secondary frequency bands that do not have a primary channel on which the beacon frame is broadcast).

[0111] In various embodiments, legacy stations are those client stations 154 that do not support the EHT protocol, e.g., devices that only support up to the 802.11ax protocol, the 802.11ac protocol, or other legacy protocols. In various embodiments, single-band stations are those client stations 154 that are configured to support only a single frequency band at a time, e.g., devices that have only a single RF radio or PHY processor. In some embodiments, the AP 114 associates the BSS's legacy stations and / or single-band stations with the frequency bands that include the primary channel (e.g., Figure 5B In some embodiments, legacy stations and / or single-band stations switch to other channels or frequency bands (e.g., including those that do not include the primary channel) during target wake time service periods (TWT SPs) negotiated with AP 114. Outside of these negotiated TWT SPs, legacy stations and single-band stations operate in the primary frequency band.

[0112] In some embodiments, AP 114 is configured to utilize an operating channel 400 having multiple primary channels. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 designates component channel Ch0 of the primary frequency band and component channel Ch3 of the secondary frequency band as primary channels. In this embodiment, each primary channel has a separate backoff timer (e.g., similar to backoff timer 506). In one embodiment, in some embodiments, when the backoff timer associated with the primary channel of a different frequency band is non-zero, AP 114 that is about to transmit a PPDU on the first frequency band (e.g., channel segment 410) does not utilize those secondary channels of the different frequency band (e.g., channel segment 420), even if the secondary channels are idle. In another embodiment, AP 114 utilizes the secondary channels of the different frequency band, but when the backoff timer is set with a new contention window, the remaining value of the backoff timer of the different frequency band is added to the random (or pseudo-random) initial value of the backoff timer.

[0113] In certain scenarios, when a multi-band AP or multi-band client station transmits multiple PPDUs on different frequency bands, where the A-MPDUs have QoS data frames from the same TID that overlap in time, certain communications devices receiving the QoS data frames may have difficulty processing the data frames with the same TID in the multiple PPDUs. This is, for example, where different PHY processors process frames for different frequency bands and a single block acknowledgement bitmap and frame buffer are used for the same TID. In other words, when frames from the same TID are received on different frequency bands, the block acknowledgement bitmap and frame buffer for the same TID need to be used by both PHY processors for the different frequency bands. In some embodiments, the multi-band AP or multi-band client station advertises whether it can process multiple PPDUs on different frequency bands where the A-MPDUs have QoS data frames from the same TID that overlap in time. In some embodiments, the AP or client station does not allow multiple PPDUs on different frequency bands where the A-MPDUs have QoS data frames from the same TID that overlap in time.

[0114] In some embodiments, for an operating channel spanning multiple frequency bands, AP 114 selects certain PHY parameters, such as a BSS color, an association identifier (AID) for a client station, and a target beacon transmit time (TBTT) for a beacon frame. In one embodiment, AP 114 selects the same BSS color for use in each of the frequency bands (e.g., the primary and secondary bands share the same BSS color). In another embodiment, AP 114 selects a different BSS color for use in each of the frequency bands. In one embodiment, AP 114 selects the same AID for a multi-band client station to identify the multi-band client station in each of the frequency bands. In another embodiment, AP 114 selects a different AID for each frequency band associated with a multi-band client station. In one embodiment, AP 114 selects the same TBTT for use in each of the frequency bands. In another embodiment, AP 114 selects a different TBTT for use in each of the frequency bands.

[0115] Figure 66 is an example timing diagram 600 for a WLAN communication device configured to utilize multiple component channels of a WLAN communication channel 502, in one embodiment. In some embodiments, AP 114 performs transmissions asynchronously within two or more frequency bands. In other words, AP 114 is configured to utilize a first frequency band for a first transmission (or reception) of a first PPDU and, independent of the first transmission or reception, utilize a second frequency band for a second transmission (or reception) of a second PPDU, wherein the first and second PPDUs have different start times, different end times, or both. In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the first and second PPDUs have the same source address (e.g., transmitted by AP 114). In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the first and second PPDUs have the same destination address (e.g., transmitted to AP 114). In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the source address of the first PPDU and the destination address of the second PPDU have the same address (e.g., AP 114 transmits the first PPDU and receives the second PPDU). In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the destination address of the first PPDU and the source address of the second PPDU have the same address (e.g., AP 114 receives the first PPDU and sends the second PPDU). In some embodiments, AP 114 utilizes separate media access procedures for two or more frequency bands. In one embodiment, AP 114 utilizes the same association procedures (e.g., block ACK negotiation, key negotiation, target wake time negotiation) across the frequency bands, but utilizes different media access procedures across the frequency bands.

[0116] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 700 for operating a first communication device in a WLAN communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device in one embodiment. The WLAN communication channel includes multiple component channels, such as those described above and Figure 4 、 Figure 5A and Figure 5B In one embodiment, the method 700 is implemented by a client station in a WLAN according to one embodiment. Figure 1 In one embodiment, the method 700 is implemented by the network interface 162. For example, in one such embodiment, the PHY processor 170 is configured to implement the method 700. According to another embodiment, the MAC processor 166 is also configured to implement at least a portion of the method 700. Figure 1 In yet another embodiment, the method 700 is implemented by the network interface 122 (eg, the PHY processor 130 and / or the MAC processor 126). In other embodiments, the method 700 is implemented by other suitable network interfaces.

[0117] At block 702, a first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) is generated for transmission to a second communications device.

[0118] At block 704, a second PPDU, different from the first PPDU, is generated for transmission to the second communications device. In one embodiment, the first PPDU is similar to PPDU 590-1 (described above), and the second PPDU is similar to PPDU 590-2 (described above). In some embodiments, the second PPDU is generated to have the same start time, end time, and PHY header length as the first PPDU. In some scenarios, the same start time, end time, and PHY header length can simplify reception and decoding of the first and second PPDUs by a receiver.

[0119] At block 706, the first PPDU and the second PPDU are simultaneously transmitted to the second communication device via the WLAN communication channel. Block 706 includes transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel of a plurality of component channels, the first component channel being within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment occupying a first frequency bandwidth, and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel of the plurality of component channels, the second component channel being within a second RF channel segment occupying a second frequency bandwidth that does not overlap with the first frequency bandwidth segment and is separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

[0120] In some embodiments, block 706 further includes determining, at the first communications device, i) whether the first component channel is available for transmitting the first PPDU using a first medium access procedure, and ii) whether the second component channel is available for transmitting the second PPDU using a second medium access procedure different from the first medium access procedure. In some scenarios, the AP 114 utilizes different medium access procedures to improve coexistence and sharing of at least some of the frequency bands with legacy devices or single-band devices, for example, by using a longer backoff timer in the first frequency band to improve coexistence and sharing, the first frequency band being used by single-band devices that are unable to utilize the second frequency band. In one embodiment, block 706 further includes utilizing the same association procedure for each of the plurality of component channels, wherein the association procedure is one of block ACK negotiation, key negotiation, and target wake time negotiation. In other words, the AP 114 utilizes different medium access procedures for the different frequency bands, but utilizes the same association procedure for the different frequency bands.

[0121] In some embodiments, method 700 further includes, at the first communications device, setting at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the first component channel and at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the second component channel to the same respective values. In one embodiment, the PHY parameters include at least one of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a number of spatial streams (NSS). In one embodiment, method 700 further includes, at the first communications device, setting at least some PHY parameters corresponding to a third component channel of the plurality of component channels to different values than the first component channel and the second component channel. In one embodiment, for example, AP 114 supports the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band, and AP 114 sets some PHY parameters (e.g., MCS and NSS) for the 5 GHz band and the 6 GHz band to the same values (e.g., NSS=8 and MCS index value=10), and sets the PHY parameters for the 2.4 GHz band to different values (e.g., NSS=1 and MCS index value=3). In some scenarios, the AP 114 sets the PHY parameters to different values to support legacy devices that are more likely to use a particular frequency band (eg, the 2.4 GHz band).

[0122] In one embodiment, the method 700 further includes: the first communication device, i) assigning a first basic service set (BSS) color to the first RF channel segment, and ii) assigning a second BSS color to the second RF channel segment. In one embodiment, the method 700 further includes: the first communication device, i) assigning a first association identifier (AID) to the second communication device in the first RF channel segment, and ii) assigning a second AID to the second communication device in the second RF channel segment, wherein the first AID is different from the second AID. In some scenarios, different BSS colors and AIDs across different frequency bands improves the efficiency of frequency band utilization, for example by providing an indication to upper layers of the MAC processor of the frequency band on which the PPDU has been received so that an acknowledgment of the PPDU can be sent on the same frequency band.

[0123] In one embodiment, method 700 includes generating a plurality of MPDUs, and generating a first PPDU and a second PPDU such that corresponding MPDUs in the plurality of MPDUs are included in only one of the first PPDU and the second PPDU. In some scenarios, MPDUs included in only one of the PPDUs (e.g., the first PPDU in the first frequency band) are easier for a receiver to decode because only one PHY processor associated with the first frequency band is used to decode the first PPDU. In one embodiment, the plurality of MPDUs includes an MPDU having a first traffic identifier (TID) and an MPDU having a second TID different from the first TID.

[0124] In some embodiments, generating the first PPDU includes generating a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field of the first PPDU, the non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel within a first RF channel segment on which the first PPDU is to be transmitted; and generating the second PPDU includes generating a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field of the second PPDU, the non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel within a second RF channel segment on which the second PPDU is to be transmitted. In some scenarios, providing an indication of the component channels within the corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field simplifies decoding the PPDU when the PPDU is received by different PHY processors of the same receiving device.

[0125] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 800 for operating a first communication device in a WLAN communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device according to one embodiment. The WLAN communication channel includes multiple component channels, such as those described above and Figure 4 、 Figure 5A and Figure 5B In one embodiment, the method 800 is implemented by a client station in a WLAN. Figure 1 In one embodiment, the method 800 is implemented by the network interface 162. For example, in one such embodiment, the PHY processor 170 is configured to implement the method 800. According to another embodiment, the MAC processor 166 is also configured to implement at least a portion of the method 800. Figure 1 In yet another embodiment, the method 800 is implemented by the network interface 122 (eg, the PHY processor 130 and / or the MAC processor 126). In other embodiments, the method 800 is implemented by other suitable network interfaces.

[0126] At block 802, in one embodiment, a first physical layer (PHY) processor of a first communications device associates with a WLAN communications channel. The first PHY processor has a first transceiver configured for radio frequency (RF) communications in a first frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communications channel. In one embodiment, the first PHY processor generally corresponds to PHY processor 316.

[0127] At block 804, in one embodiment, a second PHY processor of the first communications device associates with the WLAN communications channel. The second PHY processor has a second transceiver configured for RF communications in a second frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communications channel, wherein the first frequency bandwidth and the second frequency bandwidth do not overlap and are separated by a frequency gap. In one embodiment, the second PHY processor generally corresponds to PHY processor 320.

[0128] At block 806, in one embodiment, the first transceiver enters a power save mode when the second transceiver is in an active mode. In one embodiment, the method 800 further includes receiving, at the first PHY processor and from the second communications device, a first PPDU, the first PPDU indicating a first request by the second communications device for the first transceiver to enter a power save mode, and entering the power save mode includes entering the power save mode in response to the first request.

[0129] In some embodiments, the method 800 further includes generating a first PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) indicating entry into a power save mode by the first transceiver; and sending the first PPDU to the second communications device to notify the second communications device of entry into the power save mode.

[0130] In some embodiments, the method 800 further includes: receiving, at the second PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request by the second communications device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and entering, by the first transceiver, active mode in response to the second request. In one embodiment, the first request and the second request are indicated by one of: an information element, an extremely high throughput (EHT) variant high throughput (HT) control field, and a high efficiency (HE) variant HT control field.

[0131] In some embodiments, the method 800 further includes: receiving, at the first PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request from the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and entering, by the first transceiver, active mode in response to the second request. The power save mode includes: i) an awake state during which the first PHY processor listens for the second request; and ii) a sleep state during which the first PHY processor does not listen for signals via the first transceiver.

[0132] Further aspects of the invention relate to one or more of the following clauses.

[0133] In one embodiment, a method for operating a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels, the method comprising: generating, at the first communication device, a first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) for transmission to the second communication device; generating, at the first communication device, a second PPDU different from the first PPDU for transmission to the second communication device; and simultaneously transmitting, by the first communication device, the first PPDU and the second PPDU to the second communication device via the WLAN communication channel, the transmitting comprising: transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel of the multiple component channels, the first component channel being within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment occupying a first frequency bandwidth; and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel of the multiple component channels, the second component channel being within a second RF channel segment occupying a second frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth not overlapping with the first frequency bandwidth segment and being separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

[0134] In other embodiments, the method includes any suitable combination of one or more of the following features.

[0135] The method also includes setting, at the first communications device, at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the first component channel and at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the second component channel to the same respective values.

[0136] At least some of the PHY parameters include at least one of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a number of spatial streams (NSS).

[0137] The method also includes setting, at the first communications device, at least some PHY parameters corresponding to a third component channel of the plurality of component channels to different values than the first component channel and the second component channel.

[0138] The method also includes: sending the first PPDU via a first component channel among the plurality of component channels includes: sending the first PPDU within a 5 GHz channel segment; and sending the second PPDU via a second component channel among the plurality of component channels includes: sending the second PPDU in one of a 6 GHz channel segment and a 2.4 GHz channel segment.

[0139] Generating the second PPDU includes generating the second PPDU to have the same start time, the same end time, and the same PHY header length as the first PPDU.

[0140] Concurrently sending the first PPDU and the second PPDU to the second communication device includes determining, at the first communication device, i) whether a first component channel is available for sending the first PPDU using a first medium access procedure; and ii) whether a second component channel is available for sending the second PPDU using a second medium access procedure different from the first medium access procedure.

[0141] The method also includes utilizing, at the first communication device, a same association procedure for each component channel of the plurality of component channels, wherein the association procedure is one of block acknowledgement negotiation, key negotiation, and target wake time negotiation.

[0142] The method also includes assigning, by the first communications device, i) a first basic service set (BSS) color to the first RF channel segment, and ii) assigning a second BSS color to the second RF channel segment.

[0143] The method also includes assigning, by the first communication device, i) a first association identifier (AID) to the second communication device in the first RF channel segment, and ii) a second AID to the second communication device in the second RF channel segment, wherein the first AID is different from the second AID.

[0144] The method further includes generating a plurality of media access control protocol data units (MPDUs); and generating a first PPDU and a second PPDU such that a corresponding MPDU of the plurality of MPDUs is included in only one of the first PPDU and the second PPDU.

[0145] Generating the plurality of MPDUs includes generating an MPDU having a first traffic identifier (TID) and an MPDU having a second TID different from the first TID.

[0146] Generating the first PPDU includes: generating a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field of the first PPDU, the corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel of the first PPDU in the first RF channel segment to be transmitted; and generating the second PPDU includes: generating a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field of the second PPDU, the corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel of the component channels in the second RF channel segment to be transmitted.

[0147] In one embodiment, a first communication device is configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device including a network interface device having one or more integrated circuits. The WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to: generate a first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) at the first communication device for transmission to the second communication device; generate a second PPDU, different from the first PPDU, at the first communication device for transmission to the second communication device; and simultaneously transmit, by the first communication device, the first PPDU and the second PPDU to the second communication device via the WLAN communication channel, the transmitting comprising: transmitting the first PPDU via a first component channel of the multiple component channels, the first component channel being within a first radio frequency (RF) channel segment occupying a first frequency bandwidth; and transmitting the second PPDU via a second component channel of the multiple component channels, the second component channel being within a second RF channel segment occupying a second frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth not overlapping with the first frequency bandwidth segment and being separated from the first frequency bandwidth segment by a frequency gap.

[0148] In other embodiments, the first communication device includes any suitable combination of one or more of the following features.

[0149] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to set, at the first communications device, at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the first component channel and at least some PHY parameters corresponding to the second component channel to the same respective values.

[0150] At least some of the PHY parameters include at least one of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a number of spatial streams (NSS).

[0151] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to, at the first communications device, set at least some PHY parameters corresponding to a third component channel of the plurality of component channels to different values than the first and second component channels.

[0152] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to cause transmitting a first PPDU via a first component channel of the plurality of component channels to include transmitting the first PPDU within a 5 GHz channel segment; and cause transmitting a second PPDU via a second component channel of the plurality of component channels to include transmitting the second PPDU within one of a 6 GHz channel segment and a 2.4 GHz channel segment.

[0153] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to generate a second PPDU, including generating the second PPDU to have the same start time, the same end time, and the same PHY header length as the first PPDU.

[0154] One or more integrated circuits are configured to determine, at a first communications device, i) whether a first component channel is available to transmit a first PPDU using a first medium access procedure, and ii) whether a second component channel is available to transmit a second PPDU using a second medium access procedure different from the first medium access procedure.

[0155] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to utilize, at the first communication device, a same association procedure for each component channel of the plurality of component channels, wherein the association procedure is one of block acknowledgement negotiation, key negotiation, and target wake time negotiation.

[0156] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to, by a first communications device, i) assign a first basic service set (BSS) color to a first RF channel segment, and ii) assign a second BSS color to a second RF channel segment.

[0157] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to, by a first communication device, i) assign a first association identifier (AID) to a second communication device in a first RF channel segment, and ii) assign a second AID to the second communication device in a second RF channel segment, wherein the first AID is different from the second AID.

[0158] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to generate a plurality of media access control protocol data units (MPDUs); and generate a first PPDU and a second PPDU such that a corresponding MPDU of the plurality of MPDUs is included in only one of the first PPDU and the second PPDU.

[0159] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to generate a plurality of MPDUs, including generating an MPDU having a first traffic identifier (TID) and an MPDU having a second TID different from the first TID.

[0160] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to generate a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field for the first PPDU, the corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel of the component channels within the first RF channel segment in which the first PPDU is to be transmitted, and generate a corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field for the second PPDU, the corresponding non-legacy PHY signal field indicating each component channel of the component channels within the second RF channel segment in which the second PPDU is to be transmitted.

[0161] In one embodiment, a method for operating a first communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels, includes: associating, by the first communication device, a first physical layer (PHY) processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the first PHY processor having a first transceiver, the first transceiver configured for radio frequency (RF) communication in a first frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel; associating, by the first communication device, a second PHY processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the second PHY processor having a second transceiver, the second transceiver configured for RF communication in a second frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel, wherein the first frequency bandwidth and the second frequency bandwidth do not overlap and are separated by a frequency gap; and entering, by the first transceiver, a power save mode when the second transceiver is in an active mode.

[0162] In other embodiments, the method includes any suitable combination of one or more of the following features.

[0163] The method further includes generating, by the first PHY processor, a first PHY protocol data unit (PPDU), the first PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) indicating that the first transceiver is entering a power save mode; and sending, by the first PHY processor, the first PPDU to the second communication device to notify the second communication device of entering the power save mode.

[0164] The method also includes receiving, at the first PHY processor and from the second communication device, a first PPDU indicating a first request by the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter a power save mode; wherein entering the power save mode includes entering the power save mode in response to the first request.

[0165] The method further includes receiving, at the second PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request from the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and entering, by the first transceiver, the active mode in response to the second request.

[0166] The first request and the second request are indicated by one of the following: an information element, an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) variant High Throughput (HT) Control field, and a High Efficiency (HE) variant HT Control field.

[0167] The method further includes receiving, at the first PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request from the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and entering, by the first transceiver, the active mode in response to the second request.

[0168] The power save mode includes: i) an awake state during which the first PHY processor listens for the second request, and ii) a sleep state during which the first PHY processor does not listen for signals via the first transceiver.

[0169] In another embodiment, a first communication device is configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication channel between the first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device including a network interface device having one or more integrated circuits. The WLAN communication channel has multiple component channels. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to: associate a first physical layer (PHY) processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the first PHY processor having a first transceiver configured for radio frequency (RF) communication in a first frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel; associate a second PHY processor of the first communication device with the WLAN communication channel, the second PHY processor having a second transceiver configured for RF communication in a second frequency bandwidth of the WLAN communication channel, wherein the first frequency bandwidth and the second frequency bandwidth do not overlap and are separated by a frequency gap; and enter a power save mode when the second transceiver is in an active mode.

[0170] In other embodiments, the first communication device includes any suitable combination of one or more of the following features.

[0171] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to: generate, by a first PHY processor, a first PHY protocol data unit (PPDU), the first PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) indicating that the first transceiver is entering a power save mode; and send, by the first PHY processor, the first PPDU to a second communication device to notify the second communication device of entering the power save mode.

[0172] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to receive, at a first PHY processor and from a second communication device, a first PPDU indicating a first request by the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter a power save mode; wherein entering the power save mode includes entering the power save mode in response to the first request.

[0173] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to receive, at the second PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request by the second communications device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and enter, by the first transceiver, active mode in response to the second request.

[0174] The first request and the second request are indicated by one of the following: an information element, an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) variant High Throughput (HT) Control field, and a High Efficiency (HE) variant HT Control field.

[0175] The one or more integrated circuits are configured to receive, at the first PHY processor, a second PPDU indicating a second request from the second communication device for the first transceiver to enter active mode; and enter, by the first transceiver, active mode in response to the second request.

[0176] The power save mode includes: i) an awake state during which the first PHY processor listens for the second request, and ii) a sleep state during which the first PHY processor does not listen for signals via the first transceiver.

[0177] At least some of the various blocks, operations, and techniques described above may be implemented using hardware, a processor executing firmware instructions, a processor executing software instructions, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a processor executing software or firmware instructions, the software or firmware instructions may be stored in any computer-readable memory, such as a disk, optical disk, or other storage medium, in RAM or ROM or flash memory, a processor, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, a tape drive, or the like. The software or firmware instructions may include machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform various actions.

[0178] When implemented in hardware, the hardware may include one or more of discrete components, integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), etc. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, these specific examples are merely illustrative and do not limit the present invention, and changes, additions, and / or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for operating an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising: generating, at the AP, one or more medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) for transmission to one or more client stations, the one or more client stations including a first client station; At the AP, generating a first physical layer PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) to include the one or more MPDUs; sending, by the AP, the first PPDU to the one or more client stations via a first frequency channel segment of the WLAN; as well as At the AP, while sending the first PPDU via the first channel segment, receiving a second PPDU via a second frequency channel segment, the second PPDU including one of: i) a channel availability report from the first client station, ii) a buffer status report from the first client station, and iii) sounding feedback from the first client station.

2. The method for operation of the AP according to claim 1, further comprising: generating, at the AP, a trigger frame configured to prompt the first client station to send the second PPDU with one of: i) the channel availability report from the first client station, ii) the buffer status report from the first client station, and iii) the sounding feedback from the first client station; At the AP, generating a third PPDU to include the trigger frame; as well as The third PPDU is sent by the AP via the second frequency channel segment to prompt the client station to send the second PPDU.

3. The method for operation of the AP according to claim 2, further comprising: At the AP, before sending the first PPDU via the first frequency channel segment, performing a first backoff procedure for the first frequency channel segment; as well as At the AP, before sending the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, a second backoff procedure is performed for the second frequency channel segment.

4. The method for operation of the AP according to claim 2, further comprising: At the AP, before sending the first PPDU via the first frequency channel segment, performing a first backoff procedure for the first frequency channel segment; as well as At the AP, before sending the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, it is checked whether the second frequency channel segment is idle within a predetermined time period.

5. The method for operation of the AP according to claim 2, wherein transmitting the third PPDU comprises: When the first PPDU is transmitted via the first channel segment, the third PPDU is transmitted via the second frequency channel segment.

6. The method for operation of the AP according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The second frequency channel segment is separated from the first frequency channel segment in frequency by a frequency gap.

7. The method for operation of the AP according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The first frequency channel segment is within one of i) a 5 GHz radio frequency (RF) band, and ii) a 6 GHz RF band; and The second frequency channel segment is within the other of i) the 5 GHz RF band, and ii) the 6 GHz RF band.

8. An access point (AP) for use in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the AP comprising: A wireless network interface includes circuitry configured to: generating one or more medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) for transmission to one or more client stations, the one or more client stations including a first client station; generating a first physical layer PHY protocol data unit PPDU to include the one or more MPDUs; controlling the wireless network interface to transmit the first PPDU to the one or more client stations via a first frequency channel segment of the WLAN; as well as Receive one of the following included in a second PPDU: i) a channel availability report from the first client station, ii) a buffer status report from the first client station, and iii) sounding feedback from the first client station, the second PPDU being received by the wireless network interface from the first client station via a second frequency channel segment when the first PPDU is transmitted via the first channel segment.

9. The AP of claim 8, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: generating a trigger frame configured to prompt the first client station to send the second PPDU with one of: i) the channel availability report from the first client station, ii) the buffer status report from the first client station, and iii) the sounding feedback from the first client station; generating a third PPDU to include the trigger frame; as well as The wireless network interface is controlled to transmit the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment to prompt the client station to transmit the second PPDU.

10. The AP of claim 9, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: Before sending the first PPDU via the first frequency channel segment, performing a first backoff procedure for the first frequency channel segment; and Before sending the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, a second backoff procedure is performed for the second frequency channel segment.

11. The AP of claim 9, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: Before sending the first PPDU via the first frequency channel segment, performing a first backoff procedure for the first frequency channel segment; and Before sending the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, checking whether the second frequency channel segment is idle for a predetermined time period.

12. The AP of claim 9, wherein the circuit system is configured to: The wireless network interface is controlled to send the third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment when sending the first PPDU via the first channel segment.

13. The AP according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein: The second frequency channel segment is separated from the first frequency channel segment in frequency by a frequency gap.

14. The AP according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein: The first frequency channel segment is within one of i) a 5 GHz radio frequency (RF) band, and ii) a 6 GHz RF band; and The second frequency channel segment is within the other of i) the 5 GHz RF band, and ii) the 6 GHz RF band.

15. A method for operation of a client station in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising: At the client station, receiving a first physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) from an access point (AP) via a first frequency channel segment of the WLAN, the first PPDU including one or more medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) from the AP; generating, at the client station, one of: i) a channel availability report, ii) a buffer status report, and iii) a sounding feedback; generating, at the client station, a second PPDU to include one of: i) the channel availability report, ii) the buffer status report, and iii) the sounding feedback; as well as When the client station receives the first PPDU via the first channel segment of the WLAN, the client station sends the second PPDU to the AP via a second frequency channel segment of the WLAN.

16. The method for operation of the client station according to claim 15, further comprising: receiving, at the client station, a third PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, the third PPDU having a trigger frame configured to prompt the client station to send the second PPDU having one of: i) the channel availability report, ii) the buffer status report, and iii) the sounding feedback; The sending of the second PPDU is in response to receiving the trigger frame via the second frequency channel segment.

17. The method for operation of the client station of claim 16, wherein receiving the third PPDU comprises: While the first PPDU is received via the first channel segment, the third PPDU is received via the second frequency channel segment.

18. The method for operation of the client station according to claim 15, further comprising: At the client station, before sending the second PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, a backoff procedure is performed for the second frequency channel segment.

19. The method for operation of the client station according to claim 15, further comprising: At the client station, before sending the second PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, it is checked that the second frequency channel segment is idle for a predetermined time period.

20. The method for operation of the client station according to claim 15, wherein: The second frequency channel segment is separated from the first frequency channel segment in frequency by a frequency gap.

21. The method for operation of the client station according to claim 15, wherein: The first frequency channel segment is within one of i) a 5 GHz radio frequency (RF) band, and ii) a 6 GHz RF band; and The second frequency channel segment is within the other of i) the 5 GHz RF band, and ii) the 6 GHz RF band.

22. A client station for use in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the client station comprising: A wireless network interface includes circuitry configured to: receiving a first physical layer PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) having one or more medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs), the first PPDU being received by the wireless network interface from an access point (AP) via a first frequency channel segment of the WLAN, generating one of: i) a channel availability report, ii) a buffer status report, and iii) a probe feedback, generating a second PPDU to include one of: i) the channel availability report, ii) the buffer status report, and iii) the sounding feedback; as well as The wireless network interface is controlled to send the second PPDU to the AP via a second frequency channel segment of the WLAN when receiving the first PPDU via the first frequency segment of the WLAN.

23. The client station of claim 22, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: receiving a third PPDU having a trigger frame, the trigger frame configured to prompt the client station to send the second PPDU having one of: i) the channel availability report, ii) the buffer status report, and iii) the sounding feedback, the third PPDU being received by the wireless network interface from the AP via the second frequency channel segment; The sending of the second PPDU is in response to receiving the trigger frame via the second frequency channel segment.

24. The client station of claim 23, wherein the wireless network interface is configured to: While the first PPDU is received via the first channel segment, the third PPDU is received via the second frequency channel segment.

25. The client station of claim 22, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: Before sending the second PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, a backoff procedure is performed for the second frequency channel segment.

26. The client station of claim 22, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: Before sending the second PPDU via the second frequency channel segment, checking whether the second frequency channel segment is idle for a predetermined time period.

27. The client station of claim 22, wherein: The second frequency channel segment is separated from the first frequency channel segment in frequency by a frequency gap.

28. The client station of claim 22, wherein: The first frequency channel segment is within one of i) a 5 GHz radio frequency (RF) band, and ii) a 6 GHz RF band; and The second frequency channel segment is within the other of i) the 5 GHz RF band, and ii) the 6 GHz RF band.

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