Sounding techniques for ultra-high reliability communications

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, components, devices, and systems that support sounding techniques for ultra-high reliability (UHR) communications. In some implementations, a first communications device may receive a null data packet notification (NDPA) frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type. The NDPA frame may contain sounding information for communications devices that support UHR communications. The first communications device may receive a null data packet (NDP) according to the sounding information and perform UHR communications based on the measurement of the NDP. In some other implementations, the first communications device may receive a trigger frame indicating the NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting the NDP, and parameters for transmitting a compressed beamforming frame (CBF) associated with the NDP. The first communications device may transmit or receive the NDP according to the sounding mode and receive or transmit the CBF using the parameters.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Cross-reference of related applications)

[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 331,738, filed on 8 June 2023, entitled "SOUNDING TECHNIQUES FOR ULTRA-HIGH RELIABILITY COMMUNICATIONS," by ASTERJADHI et al., which has been assigned to the assignee of this application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0002]

[0002] This disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to sounding techniques for ultra-high reliability (UHR) communications. [Background technology]

[0003]

[0003] A wireless local area network (WLAN) may be formed by one or more wireless access points (APs) that provide a shared wireless communication medium for use by multiple client devices, also known as wireless stations (STAs). The basic building block of a WLAN conforming to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards is a Basic Service Set (BSS) managed by an AP. Each BSS is identified by a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) advertised by the AP. The AP periodically broadcasts beacon frames to enable any STA within the AP's wireless range to establish or maintain a communication link with the WLAN.

[0004]

[0004] In some WLANs, a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame may precede the transmission of a null data packet (NDP). Some NDPAs may be associated with specific variations such as extremely high throughput (EHT) or high efficiency (HE) variations. However, the NDPA frame structure can only support a limited number of NDPA variations. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0005]

[0005] Each of the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein has several inventive aspects, and no single aspect thereof alone represents any of the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

[0006]

[0006] One inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, and instructions stored in the at least one memory. The instructions may be executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to receive an NDPA frame associated with an ultra-high reliability (UHR) null data packet notification (NDPA) variant type, which includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; to receive a null data packet (NDP) according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication; and to perform UHR communication with a second communication device according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0007]

[0007] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a method for wireless communication in a first communication device. The method may include receiving an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; receiving an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication; and performing UHR communication with a second communication device, according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0008]

[0008] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device. The apparatus may include means for receiving an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; means for receiving an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication; and means for performing UHR communication with a second communication device, according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0009]

[0009] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a first communication device. The code may include instructions, the instructions being executable by at least one processor to receive an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; receive an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication; and perform UHR communication with a second communication device according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0010]

[0010] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-temporary computer-readable media described herein, receiving an NDPA frame may include an operation, feature, means, or instruction for receiving a sounding dialog token field via the NDPA frame, which includes a 4-bit NDPA variant type subfield indicating the UHR NDPA variant type of the NDPA frame.

[0011]

[0011] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-temporary computer-readable media described herein, receiving an NDPA frame may include an operation, feature, means, or instruction for receiving a station (STA) information field via the NDPA frame that includes an association identifier (AID) associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, an NDPA variant extension subfield indicating a UHR NDPA variant type, one or more beamforming parameters relating to a sounding sequence associated with the NDP, a sounding mode for NDP transmission, or a combination thereof.

[0012]

[0012] One inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, and instructions stored in the at least one memory. The instructions may be executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to receive a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a compressed beamforming frame (CBF) associated with the NDP; to receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and to transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0013]

[0013] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a method for wireless communication in a first communication device. The method may include receiving a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; receiving or transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and transmitting or receiving a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0014]

[0014] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device. The apparatus may include means for receiving a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; means for receiving or transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and means for transmitting or receiving a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0015]

[0015] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a first communication device. The code may include instructions, which are executable by at least one processor to receive a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; to receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and to transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0016]

[0016] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-temporary computer-readable media described herein, receiving a trigger frame may include an operation, feature, means, or instruction for receiving a 4-bit trigger type field indicating an NDPA via the trigger frame.

[0017]

[0017] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-temporary computer-readable media described herein, receiving a trigger frame may include an operation, feature, means, or instruction for receiving, via the trigger frame, a common information field indicating one or more parameters associated with an NDPA, including a variant type of an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmission of an NDP, one or more beamforming parameters relating to a sounding sequence associated with an NDP, or a combination thereof.

[0018]

[0018] One inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, and instructions stored in the at least one memory. The instructions may be executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to transmit an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, which includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; to transmit an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication; and to perform UHR communication with the first communication device according to the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0019]

[0019] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a method for wireless communication in a second communication device. The method may include: transmitting an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, which includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; transmitting an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication; and performing UHR communication with a first communication device according to the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0020]

[0020] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device. The apparatus may include means for transmitting an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; means for transmitting an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication; and means for performing UHR communication with a first communication device, according to the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0021]

[0021] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in a non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a second communication device. The code may include instructions, the instructions being executable by at least one processor to transmit an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; transmit an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication; and perform UHR communication with the first communication device according to the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0022]

[0022] One inventive aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, and instructions stored in the at least one memory. The instructions may be executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to send a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for sending an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for sending a CBF associated with the NDP; to send or receive an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and to receive or send a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0023] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication in a second communication device. The method includes transmitting a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; transmitting or receiving an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and receiving or transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0024] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device. The apparatus includes means for transmitting a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; means for transmitting or receiving an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and means for receiving or transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0025] Another inventive aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication in a second communication device. The code can include instructions executable by at least one processor to transmit a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; transmit or receive an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and receive or transmit a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0026]

[0026] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non - transient computer - readable media described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving respective UHR NDPs from one or more STAs according to the NDPA indicated by a trigger frame, where each UHR NDP includes a CBF associated with the trigger frame, a buffer status report associated with one or more STAs, or both.

[0027]

[0027] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non - transient computer - readable media described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting a second trigger frame indicating transmission parameters for each of one or more STAs, where the transmission parameters may be based on a buffer status report in each UHR NDP from one or more STAs, a channel status estimate derived from each UHR NDP, or both.

[0028]

[0028] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will be apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn to exact scale.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1]

[0029] A drawing of a wireless local area network (WLAN) is shown. [Figure 2]

[0030] An exemplary protocol data unit (PDU) that can be used for wireless communication between a wireless access point (AP) and one or more wireless stations (STAs) is shown. [Figure 3]

[0031] An exemplary physical layer (PHY) PDU (PPDU) is shown, which can be used for wireless communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. [Figure 4]

[0032] This shows an exemplary PPDU hierarchical format that can be used for communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. [Figure 5]

[0033] Figures 5A and 5B show examples of Null Data Packet Advertisement (NDPA) frames and trigger frames that can be used for communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. [Figure 6]

[0034] An example of a signaling diagram supporting sounding techniques for ultra-high reliability (UHR) communications is shown. [Figure 7]

[0035] This shows an example of an NDPA frame that supports sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 8]

[0036] Figures 8A and 8B show examples of communication timelines that support sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 9]

[0037] Figures 9A and 9B show examples of communication timelines that support sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 10]

[0038] Figures 10A and 10B show examples of communication timelines that support sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 11]

[0039] Figures 11A and 11B show examples of communication timelines that support sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 12]

[0040] Figures 12A and 12B show examples of NDPA frames and communication timelines that support sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 13]

[0041] This shows an example process flow that supports sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 14] This shows an example process flow that supports sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 15]

[0042] This shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication device that supports sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 16]

[0043] This shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication device that supports sounding techniques for UHR communications. [Figure 17]

[0044] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process supporting sounding techniques for UHR communications is provided. [Figure 18] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process supporting sounding techniques for UHR communications is provided. [Figure 19] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process supporting sounding techniques for UHR communications is provided. [Figure 20] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process supporting sounding techniques for UHR communications is provided.

[0030]

[0045] Similar reference numbers and names in various drawings refer to the same elements. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031]

[0046] The following description applies to several specific examples for the purpose of illustrating innovative aspects of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in numerous different ways. Some or all of the examples described may be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals in accordance with, among other things, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, the IEEE 802.15 standard, the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group (SIG) standard, or one or more of the Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3G, 4G, or 5G (New Radio (NR)) standards issued by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0032]

[0047] The examples described can be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according to one or more of the following technologies: code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), spatial division multiple access (SDMA), rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), multi-user shared access (MUSA), single-user (SU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and multi-user (MU)-MIMO. The examples described can also be implemented using other wireless communication protocols or RF signals suitable for use in one or more of the following networks: wireless personal area network (WPAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless wide area network (WWAN), wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), or Internet of Things (IoT) network.

[0033]

[0048] In some WLANs, a Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) frame may precede the transmission of a Null Data Packet (NDP). Upon receiving an NDPA frame from a Wireless Access Point (AP), a Wireless Station (STA) may prepare to receive and measure the NDP from the AP. The STA may then transmit a compressed beamforming frame (CBF) containing a channel quality indicator (CQI), beamforming parameters, and other information derived from the NDP measurements. In non-trigger-based sounding mode, the STA may transmit the CBF using the parameters indicated by the NDPA. In trigger-based sounding mode, the STA may receive a beamforming report poll (BFRP) trigger frame indicating which parameters should be used for transmitting the CBF. In some implementations, NDPA may be associated with a specific variant or type of signaling, such as a version of the signaling protocol or standard (e.g., High Efficiency (HE) variant, Very High Throughput (EHT) variant, or Very High Throughput (VHT) variant). A specific variant of NDPA may be indicated by an NDPA variant field within the NDPA. However, existing NDPA framework structures may support a limited number of NDPA variants.

[0034]

[0049] Various embodiments generally relate to increasing the number of NDPA variations that can be signaled between communication devices. Some embodiments more specifically provide ultra-high reliability (UHR) NDPA frame variations and NDPA trigger frame variations. In some implementations, to increase the number of NDPA variations that can be signaled, the length of the NDPA variation field in the UHR NDPA frame variation may be extended from 2 bits to 4 bits, thereby allowing communication devices (such as wireless APs) to indicate additional NDPA variations. Additionally or alternatively, reserved bits or special association identifiers (AIDs) in the STA information field of the UHR NDPA frame variation can be used to indicate a specific NDPA variation (such as the UHR NDPA variation). In other implementations, the trigger type field of the trigger frame can be set to a specific value to indicate that the trigger frame contains an NDPA (i.e., to indicate an NDPA trigger frame variation). A common information field in the trigger frame can be used to convey more information about the NDPA, such as the NDPA variation or the sounding mode associated with the NDPA. NDPA trigger frame deformation may also indicate parameters for the transmission of corresponding CBFs from one or more of the response STAs. Some of these parameters may relate to UHR. For example, one or more of the parameters may indicate support for 480 megahertz (MHz) and / or 640 MHz bandwidth(single or multiple), distributed resource unit (RU) allocation for sounding, and extended RU allocation fields (which can cover up to 320 MHz or wider bandwidths).

[0035]

[0050] In some implementations, a new subtype value for NDPA (e.g., type=control, subtype=enhancedNDPA) may be used to indicate enhanced NDPA (eNDPA), such as in UHR NDPA frame variations. Signaling to distinguish eNDPA from other NDPs may be located (i.e., given) in the medium access control (MAC) header of the NDPA frame. In some implementations, eNDPA may include signaling, along with other parameters (such as the maximum MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) size), that indicates to the beamformer(s) which physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) type should be used for transmitting the corresponding CBF.

[0036]

[0051] Certain aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations may improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures, for example, by enabling communication devices to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using a trigger frame format to indicate NDPA may reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein may also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding, which may further improve the signaling efficiency of the sounding procedure. Additionally or alternatively, some aspects may support wider bandwidth and more spatial streams (e.g., up to 16 spatial streams) for sounding, along with greater flexibility in selecting sounding modes, forward scalability, etc.

[0037]

[0052] Figure 1 shows a diagram of WLAN100. In some embodiments, WLAN100 can be an example of a Wi-Fi network. For example, WLAN100 can be a network implementing at least one of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards (as defined in the IEEE 802.11-2020 specification or its revisions, including, but not limited to, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, 802.11bd, 802.11be, 802.11bf, and the 802.11 amendment associated with Wi-Fi 8). WLAN100 may include numerous wireless communication devices such as a wireless AP102 and multiple wireless STA104s. Although only one AP102 is shown in Figure 1, WLAN100 can also include multiple AP102s. The AP102 shown in Figure 1 can represent a wide variety of AP types, including, but not limited to, enterprise-level APs, single-frequency APs, dual-band APs, standalone APs, software APs, and multi-link APs. The coverage area and capacity of cellular networks (LTE, 5G NR, etc.) may be further improved by small cells supported by AP102, which act as miniature base stations. Furthermore, private cellular networks may also be built through wireless area networks using small cells.

[0038]

[0053] Each of the STA104 may also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), mobile device, mobile handset, wireless handset, access terminal (AT), user equipment (UE), subscriber station (SS), or subscriber unit, among other implementations. The STA104 may represent a variety of devices, among other implementations, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, Chromebooks, extended reality (XR) headsets, wearable devices, display devices (e.g., TVs (including smart TVs), computer monitors, navigation systems), music or other audio or stereo devices, remote control devices ("remote"), printers, kitchen appliances (including smart refrigerators) or other household appliances, key fobs (e.g., for passive keyless entry and start (PKES) systems), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and vehicles. Various STA104 units in the network can communicate with each other via AP102.

[0039]

[0054] A single AP102 and associated set of STA104 may be referred to as a basic service set (BSS) managed by each AP102. Figure 1 additionally shows an exemplary coverage area 108 of AP102, which may represent the basic service area (BSA) of WLAN100. The BSS may be identified or indicated to users by a service set identifier (SSID) and to other devices by a BSS identifier (BSSID), which may be the media access control (MAC) address of AP102. AP102 may periodically broadcast beacon frames ("beacons") containing the BSSID so that any STA104 within AP102's wireless range can "associate" or reassociate with AP102 in order to establish or maintain a communication link 106 (hereinafter also referred to as a "Wi-Fi link") with AP102. For example, a beacon may include identification information or an indicator of the primary channel used by each AP102, as well as a timing synchronization function to establish or maintain timing synchronization with the AP102. The AP102 may provide access to the external network to various STA104 in the WLAN via their respective communication links 106.

[0040]

[0055] To establish a communication link 106 with AP102, each STA104 is configured to perform either a passive scan operation or an active scan operation ("scan") on a frequency channel within one or more frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, or 60 GHz bands). To perform a passive scan, STA104 listens for beacons, which are transmitted by the corresponding AP102 at periodic time intervals (measured in time units, TUs, where one TU may be equal to 1024 microseconds, μs) referred to as the target beacon transmission time (TBTT). To perform an active scan, STA104 generates probe requests, transmits them sequentially on each channel to be scanned, and listens for probe responses from AP102. Each STA104 may identify, determine, confirm, or select an AP102 to associate with, based on scan information obtained through passive or active scanning, and may perform authentication and association operations to establish a communication link 106 with the selected AP102. Upon completion of the association operation, the AP102 assigns an association identifier (AID) to the STA104, which the AP102 uses to track the STA104.

[0041]

[0056] As a result of the increased ubiquity of wireless networks, STA104 may have the opportunity to select one of many BSSs within STA104's range, or to select from multiple AP102s that together form an extended service set (ESS) containing multiple connected BSSs. An extended network station associated with WLAN100 may be connected to a wired or wireless distributed system that allows multiple AP102s to be connected within such an ESS. Therefore, STA104 may be covered by two or more AP102s and may be associated with different AP102s at different times for different transmissions. In addition, after association with an AP102, STA104 may also periodically scan its vicinity to find a more suitable AP102 to associate with. For example, STA104 moving towards an associated AP102 may perform a "roaming" scan to find another AP102 with more desirable network characteristics, such as a higher received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or reduced traffic load.

[0042]

[0057] In some implementations, STA104 can form a network without AP102 or any other equipment besides the STA104 themselves. One example of such a network is an ad-hoc network (or wireless ad-hoc network). An ad-hoc network may alternatively be referred to as a mesh network or a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. In some implementations, an ad-hoc network may be implemented within a larger wireless network such as a WLAN100. In such an example, STA104 may be able to communicate with each other via AP102 using communication link 106, but STA104 can also communicate with each other directly via direct wireless communication link 110. Additionally, two STA104 may communicate via direct communication link 110 regardless of whether both STA104 are associated with and serviced by the same AP102. In such an ad-hoc system, it may be assumed that one or more of the STA104s take on the role that is played by AP102 in BSS. Such an STA104 may be referred to as a group owner (GO) and can coordinate transmissions within an ad-hoc network. Examples of direct wireless communication links 110 include Wi-Fi Direct connections, connections established using Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) links, and other P2P group connections.

[0043]

[0058] AP102 and STA104 can function and communicate (via their respective communication links 106) in accordance with one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. These standards define WLAN radio protocols and baseband protocols for the PHY and MAC layers. AP102 and STA104 transmit and receive wireless communications (hereinafter also referred to as "Wi-Fi communications" or "wireless packets") to and from each other in the form of PPDUs. AP102 and STA104 within WLAN 100 can transmit PPDUs over unlicensed spectrum, which may be a portion of the spectrum including frequency bands conventionally used by Wi-Fi technology, such as the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 60GHz, 3.6GHz, and 900MHz bands. Some implementations of AP102 and STA104 described herein may also communicate in other frequency bands, such as the 5.9GHz and 6GHz bands, which may support both licensed and unlicensed communications. AP102 and STA104 can also communicate over other frequency bands, such as shared-license frequency bands, where multiple operators may have licenses to operate within the same or overlapping frequency bands.

[0044]

[0059] Each frequency band may contain multiple subbands or frequency channels. For example, PPDUs compliant with the IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and 802.11be supplemental standards may be transmitted over a 2.4GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz band, each divided into multiple 20MHz channels. Therefore, these PPDUs are transmitted over physical channels with a minimum bandwidth of 20MHz, but larger channels can also be formed through channel bonding. For example, by bonding multiple 20MHz channels together, a PPDU may be transmitted over a physical channel with a bandwidth of 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz.

[0045]

[0060] Each PPDU is a composite structure containing a PHY preamble and payload in the form of a PHY service data unit (PSDU). Information provided within the preamble can be used by the receiving device to decode subsequent data within the PSDU. In instances where a PPDU is transmitted over bonded channels, the preamble fields are duplicated and may be transmitted on each of multiple component channels. A PHY preamble may contain both a legacy portion (or "legacy preamble") and a non-legacy portion (or "non-legacy preamble"). The legacy preamble may be used for packet detection, automatic gain control, and channel estimation, among other applications. The legacy preamble may also generally be used to maintain compatibility with legacy devices. The format, coding, and information provided within the non-legacy portion of the preamble are associated with specific IEEE 802.11 protocols that should be used to transmit the payload.

[0046]

[0061] Figure 2 shows an exemplary protocol data unit (PDU) 200 that can be used for wireless communication between a wireless AP 102 and one or more wireless STAs 104. For example, the PDU 200 can be configured as a PPDU. As shown, the PDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 202 and a PHY payload 204. For example, the preamble 202 may include a legacy portion which itself includes a legacy short training field (L-STF) 206 which may consist of two symbols, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 208 which may consist of two symbols, and a legacy signal field (L-SIG) 210 which may consist of two symbols. The legacy portion of the preamble 202 may be configured according to the IEEE 802.11a wireless communication protocol standard. The preamble 202 may also include a non-legacy portion containing one or more non-legacy fields 212 that conform to, for example, one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.

[0047]

[0062] The L-STF 206 generally enables the receiving device to perform coarse timing and frequency tracking and automatic gain control (AGC). The L-LTF 208 generally enables the receiving device to perform fine timing and frequency tracking and also enables initial estimation of the wireless channel. The L-SIG 210 generally enables the receiving device to determine (e.g., acquire, select, identify, detect, verify, calculate, or compute) the duration of a PDU to avoid overlapping transmissions with the PDU, and to use the determined duration. The legacy portion of the preamble, including the L-STF 206, L-LTF 208, and L-SIG 210, may be modulated according to a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme. The payload 204 may be modulated according to a BPSK modulation scheme, a quadrature BPSK (Q-BPSK) modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation scheme, or another suitable modulation scheme. The payload 204 may include a PSDU containing a data field (DATA) 214, which may carry upper layer data in the form of, for example, an MPDU or an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU).

[0048]

[0063] Figure 3 shows another exemplary PPDU 350 that can be used for wireless communication between a wireless AP 102 and one or more wireless STA 104s. The PPDU 350 can be used for SU transmission, OFDMA transmission, or MU-MIMO transmission. The PPDU 350 can be formatted as an EHT WLAN PPDU in accordance with the IEEE 802.11be revision to the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards, or as a PPDU compliant with any later (post-EHT) version of a new wireless communication protocol compliant with a future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard such as the 802.11 revision associated with Wi-Fi 8, or another wireless communication standard. The PPDU 350 includes a PHY preamble, which includes a legacy portion 352 and a non-legacy portion 354. The PPDU 350 may further include a PHY payload 356 after the preamble, for example in the form of a PSDU including a data field 374.

[0049]

[0064] The legacy portion 352 of the preamble includes L-STF358, L-LTF360, and L-SIG362. The non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble includes a repetition of L-SIG, RL-SIG364 and several wireless communication protocol version-dependent signal fields following RL-SIG364. For example, the non-legacy portion 354 may include a general-purpose signal field (referred to herein as "U-SIG366") and a UHR signal field (referred to herein as "UHR-SIG368"). The presence of RL-SIG364 and U-SIG366 may indicate to the UHR or later version-compliant STA104 that the PPDU350 is an EHT PPDU, or a PPDU compliant with any later (post-EHT) version of a new wireless communication protocol conforming to a future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard. U-SIG366 and / or EHT-SIG368 may be configured as other wireless communication protocol versions associated with revisions of the IEEE standards family beyond UHR, and may carry version-dependent information about them. For example, U-SIG366 may be used by a receiving device to interpret bits in one or more of UHR-SIG368 or data field 374. In instances involving the use of bonded channels, such as L-STF358, L-LTF360, and L-SIG362, the information in U-SIG366 and UHR-SIG368 may be duplicated and transmitted over each of the 20MHz component channels.

[0050]

[0065] The non-legacy portion 354 further includes an additional STF370 (referred to herein as “UHR-STF370”, which may be constructed as other wireless communication protocol versions after UHR and may carry version-dependent information for them) and one or more additional LTF372 (referred to herein as “UHR-LTF372”, which may be constructed as other wireless communication protocol versions after UHR and may carry version-dependent information for them). The UHR-STF370 may be used for timing and frequency tracking and AGC, and the UHR-LTF372 may be used for improved channel estimation.

[0051]

[0066] UHR-SIG368 may be used by AP102 to identify one or more STA104s and to notify multiple STA104s that AP102 has scheduled UL or DL ​​resources for multiple STA104s. UHR-SIG368 may be decoded by each compatible STA104 served by AP102. UHR-SIG368 may generally be used by a receiving device to interpret bits in data field 374. For example, UHR-SIG368 may include RU allocation information, spatial stream configuration information, and user-specific (e.g., STA-specific) signaling information. Each UHR-SIG368 may include a common field and at least one user-specific field. In the context of OFDMA, the common field can indicate the RU distribution across multiple STA104s, the RU allocation in the frequency domain, which RUs are allocated to MU-MIMO transmissions, which RUs correspond to OFDMA transmissions, and the number of users in the allocation. The user-specific field is assigned to a specific STA104 and carries STA-specific scheduling information, such as user-specific MCS values ​​and user-specific RU allocation information. Such information allows each STA104 to identify and decode the corresponding RU in the associated data field 374.

[0052]

[0067] In some wireless communication environments, EHT systems, or other systems compliant with the next generation of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards, may offer additional capabilities over other older systems (e.g., HE systems or other legacy systems). EHT and newer wireless communication protocols may support flexible operating bandwidth expansion in AP102 and STA104, such as wider operating bandwidth and / or finer-grained operation compared to legacy operation. For example, UHR systems may enable communication over operating bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, 320 MHz, 480 MHz, 640 MHz, and 1280 MHz. EHT systems may support multiple bandwidth modes, such as a continuous 240 MHz bandwidth mode, a continuous 320 MHz bandwidth mode, a discontinuous 160+160 MHz bandwidth mode, or a discontinuous 80+80+80+80 (or "4×80") MHz bandwidth mode.

[0053]

[0068] In some implementations, the wireless communication device operates in a continuous 320 MHz bandwidth mode or a 160 + 160 MHz bandwidth mode. The signal for transmission may be generated by two different transmit chains of devices, each having a 160 MHz bandwidth (and each coupled to a different power amplifier). In some other implementations, the signal for transmission may be generated by four or more different transmit chains of devices, each having an 80 MHz bandwidth.

[0054]

[0069] In some other implementations, wireless communication devices may operate in a continuous 240 MHz bandwidth mode or a discontinuous 160 + 80 MHz bandwidth mode. In some implementations, the signal for transmission may be generated by three different transmit chains of the device, each having an 80 MHz bandwidth. In some other implementations, the 240 MHz / 160 + 80 MHz bandwidth mode may also be formed by puncturing a 320 / 160 + 160 MHz bandwidth mode using one or more 80 MHz subchannels. For example, the signal for transmission may be generated by two different transmit chains of the device, each having a 160 MHz bandwidth, with one of the transmit chains outputting a signal that has an 80 MHz subchannel punctured within it.

[0055]

[0070] The operating bandwidth can also be adapted to simultaneous operation on portions of the spectrum that include other unlicensed frequency bands (such as the 6GHz band) and frequency bands conventionally used by Wi-Fi technology. In discontinuous examples, the operating bandwidth may span one or more heterogeneous sets of subchannels. For example, a 320MHz bandwidth may be continuous and located within the same 6GHz band, or it may be discontinuous and located in different bands (e.g., partially within the 5GHz band and partially within the 6GHz band).

[0056]

[0071] In some implementations, operational enhancements associated with newer generations of the IEEE 802.11 family of EHT and wireless communication protocols, particularly operation in increased bandwidth, may include improvements to carrier detection and signal reporting mechanisms. Such techniques may include modifications to existing rules, structures, or signaling implemented for legacy systems.

[0057]

[0072] Figure 4 shows an exemplary hierarchical format of a PPDU that can be used for communication between a wireless AP 102 and one or more wireless STAs 104. As described, each PPDU 400 includes a PHY preamble 402 and a PSDU 404. Each PSDU 404 may represent (or "carry") one or more MAC PDUs (MPDUs) 416. For example, each PSDU 404 may carry an aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) 406 containing an aggregation of multiple A-MPDU subframes 408. Each A-MPDU subframe 406 may contain an MPDU frame 410, which includes a MAC delimiter 412 and a MAC header 414 prior to the accompanying MPDU 416 containing the data portion ("payload" or "frame body") of the MPDU frame 410. Each MPDU frame 410 may also include a frame check sequence (FCS) field 418 for error detection (for example, the FCS field may include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)) and padding bits 420. An MPDU 416 may carry one or more MAC service data units (MSDUs) 426. For example, an MPDU 416 may carry an aggregate MSDU (A-MSDU) 422 containing multiple A-MSDU subframes 424. Each A-MSDU subframe 424 includes a corresponding MSDU 430, preceded by a subframe header 428 and, in some implementations, followed by padding bits 432.

[0058]

[0073] Referring again to the MPDU frame 410, the MAC delimiter 412 acts as a marker for the start of the associated MPDU 416 and may indicate the length of the associated MPDU 416. The MAC header 414 may include several fields containing information that defines or indicates the characteristics or attributes of the data encapsulated within the frame body. The MAC header 414 may include a duration field indicating the duration from the end of the PPDU to the end of the acknowledgment (ACK) or block ACK (BA) of the PPDU that will be transmitted by the receiving wireless communication device. The use of the duration field helps reserve the wireless medium for the indicated duration, allowing the receiving device to establish its network allocation vector (NAV). The MAC header 414 also includes one or more fields indicating the addresses of the data encapsulated within the frame body. For example, the MAC header 414 may include a source address, transmitter address, receiver address, or a combination of destination addresses. The MAC header 414 may further include a frame control field containing control information. The frame control field may specify the frame type, such as a data frame, control frame, or management frame.

[0059]

[0074] Some AP102 and STA104 units may implement spatial reuse techniques. For example, AP102 and STA104 units configured for communication using IEEE 802.11ax or 802.11be may be configured with BSS colors. AP102 units associated with different BSSs may be associated with different BSS colors. The BSS color is a numerical identifier (such as a 6-bit field carried by the SIG field) for each BSS of the AP. Each STA104 unit may learn its own BSS color when associated with its respective AP102 unit. BSS color information is communicated in both the PHY and MAC sublayers. If AP102 or STA104 detects, acquires, selects, or identifies a wireless packet from another wireless communication device while competing for access, AP102 or STA104 may apply different conflict parameters depending on whether the wireless packet is transmitted to another wireless communication device within its BSS or to a wireless communication device from an overlapping BSS (OBSS), as determined, identified, confirmed, or calculated by the BSS color index in the wireless packet's preamble. For example, if the BSS color associated with the wireless packet is the same as the BSS color of AP102 or STA104, AP102 or STA104 may use a first Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) detection threshold when performing a CCA on the wireless channel. However, if the BSS color associated with the wireless packet is different from the BSS color of AP102 or STA104, AP102 or STA104 may use a second RSSI detection threshold instead of the first RSSI detection threshold when performing a CCA on the wireless channel, the second RSSI detection threshold being greater than the first RSSI detection threshold. In this way, when interfering transmissions are associated with OBSS, the criteria for winning the competition are relaxed.

[0060]

[0075] Some AP102s and STA104s may implement techniques for spatial reuse involving cooperation in communication schemes. According to such techniques, AP102s may compete for access to the wireless medium to gain control of the medium for the TXOP. The winning AP102 (hereinafter also referred to as the "shared AP") may select one or more other AP102s (hereinafter also referred to as "shared APs") to share the TXOP's resources. The shared AP102s and shared AP102s may be located close to each other such that at least some of their wireless coverage areas overlap at least partially. Some implementations may specifically involve cooperative AP TDMA or OFDMA techniques for sharing the TXOP's time or frequency resources. To share these time or frequency resources, the shared AP102 may divide the TXOP into multiple time or frequency segments, each containing a time or frequency resource representing a portion of the TXOP. The shared AP102 may allocate the time or frequency segments to itself or to one or more of the shared AP102s. For example, each shared AP102 may utilize a partial TXOP allocated by the shared AP102 for its uplink or downlink communication with its associated STA104.

[0061]

[0076] In some implementations of such TDMA techniques, each part of the TXOP contains a set of time resources that do not overlap with any time resources of any other part of the TXOP. In such examples, scheduling information may include an index of the time resources among the TXOP's time resources associated with each part of the TXOP. For example, scheduling information may include an index of the TXOP's time segments, such as an index of one or more sets of slots or symbolic periods associated with each part of the TXOP for multi-user TDMA.

[0062]

[0077] In some other implementations of the OFDMA technique, each part of the TXOP contains a set of frequency resources that do not overlap with any other frequency resources of any other part of the TXOP. In such implementations, scheduling information may include an index of frequency resources among the TXOP's frequency resources, associated with each part of the TXOP. For example, scheduling information may include an index of bandwidth portions of wireless channels, such as an index of one or more subchannels or RUs associated with each part of the TXOP for multi-user OFDMA.

[0063]

[0078] In this way, the acquisition of a TXOP by a shared AP enables communication between one or more additional shared APs 102 and their respective BSSs, subject to appropriate power control and link adaptation. For example, a shared AP 102 may limit the transmit power of a selected shared AP 102 so that interference from the selected AP 102 does not prevent the STA 104 associated with the TXOP owner from successfully decoding packets transmitted by the shared AP 102. Other APs 102 may not need to wait to win the competition for the TXOP so that they can transmit and receive data according to conventional CSMA / CA or EDCA techniques, so such techniques can be used to reduce latency. Additionally, by enabling groups of APs 102 associated with different BSSs to participate in a cooperative AP transmit session, during which the group of APs 102s may share at least a portion of a single TXOP acquired by any one of the participating APs 102, and such techniques can increase throughput across the BSSs associated with the participating APs 102s and achieve improved throughput fairness. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the shared AP102s and scheduling their respective time or frequency resources, media utilization can be maximized or increased, and packet loss resulting from OBSS interference can be minimized or reduced. Various implementations can achieve these and other advantages without requiring the shared AP102 or shared AP102s to recognize STA104s associated with other BSSs, without requiring a pre-allocated or dedicated master AP102 or a group of pre-allocated AP102s, and without requiring backhaul coordination between AP102s involved in TXOP.

[0064]

[0079] In some implementations where the signal strength or interference level associated with the selected AP102 is relatively low (e.g., below a given value), or when the decoding error rate of the selected AP102 is relatively low (e.g., below a threshold), the start times of communication between different BSSs may be synchronized. Conversely, when the signal strength or interference level associated with the selected AP102 is relatively high (e.g., greater than a given value), or when the decoding error rate of the selected AP102 is relatively high (e.g., greater than a threshold), the start times may be offset from each other by the time period associated with decoding the preamble of the wireless packet and determining from the decoded preamble whether the wireless packet is an in-BSS packet or an OBSS packet. For example, the time period between the transmission of an in-BSS packet and the transmission of an OBSS packet may allow each AP102 (or its associated STA104) to decode the preamble of the wireless packet and obtain the BSS color value carried in the wireless packet in order to determine whether the wireless packet is an in-BSS packet or an OBSS packet. In this way, each of the involved AP102s and their associated STA104s may be able to receive and decode BSS packets in the presence of OBSS interference.

[0065]

[0080] In some implementations, a shared AP102 may poll a set of unmanaged or unco-managed AP102s that support coordinated reuse to identify candidates for future space reuse opportunities. For example, a shared AP102 may send one or more space reuse pole frames as part of determining one or more space reuse criteria and selecting one or more other AP102s that should be shared AP102s. Following the polling, the shared AP102 may receive responses from one or more of the polled AP102s. In some specific examples, a shared AP102 may send coordinated AP TXOP indication (CTI) frames to other AP102s indicating the time and frequency of TXOP resources that can be shared. The shared AP102 may select one or more candidate AP102s after receiving coordinated AP TXOP request (CTR) frames from each candidate AP102 indicating the requests of each AP102 involved in the TXOP. Polling responses or CTR frames may include power metrics, e.g., RX power or RSSI measured by each AP102. In some other implementations, a shared AP102 may directly measure potential interference of services supported by one or more AP102s (such as UL transmissions) and select a shared AP102 based on the measured potential interference. A shared AP102 generally selects an AP102 to participate in cooperative space reuse so as to still protect its own transmissions with STA104 in its BSS (which may be referred to as primary transmissions). The selected AP102 may be allocated resources during TXOP as described above.

[0066]

[0081] AP102 and STA104, which include multiple antennas, can support various diversity schemes. For example, spatial diversity may be used by one or both of the transmitting and receiving devices to increase transmission robustness. For example, to implement a transmit diversity scheme, the transmitting device may redundantly transmit the same data through two or more antennas.

[0067]

[0082] AP102 and STA104, which include multiple antennas, can also support space-time block coding (STBC). Using STBC, the transmitting device also transmits multiple copies of the data stream across multiple antennas to leverage different received versions of the data in order to increase the likelihood of decoding the correct data. More specifically, the data stream to be transmitted is coded into blocks, and these blocks are distributed over time across spaced-out antennas. Generally, STBC is used with a number of transmitting antennas N STX The quantity N of the spatial stream SS It can be used when it exceeds N. SS The number of spatial streams is N STS They can be mapped to spatiotemporal streams, which are then N STX It is mapped to an individual transmission chain.

[0068]

[0083] AP102 and STA104, which include multiple antennas, can also support spatial multiplexing, which can be used to increase the spectral efficiency of transmission and the resulting throughput. To implement spatial multiplexing, the transmitting device has a quantity N ss The data stream is divided into separate, independent spatial streams. STXSpatial streams are encoded and transmitted separately and in parallel via the transmit antennas. AP102 and STA104, which include multiple antennas, may also support beamforming. Beamforming generally refers to concentrating the energy of transmission in the direction of a target receiver. Beamforming can be used in both, for example, the single-user (SU) context to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and, for example, the multi-user (MU) context to enable multi-input multi-output (MIMO) (also referred to as space division multiple access (SDMA)) transmission. In the context of MU-MIMO, beamforming may additionally or alternatively involve nulling out the energy in the direction of other receiving devices. To implement SU beamforming or MU-MIMO, a transmit device called a beamformer transmits signals from each of the multiple antennas. The beamformer configures the amplitude and phase shifts between the signals transmitted from different antennas to be added such that the signals reinforce each other along a specific direction towards the intended receiver (referred to as beamforming), or to be added such that they cancel each other out in other directions towards other devices to reduce interference in the MU-MIMO context. The manner in which the beamformer configures the amplitude and phase shifts depends on the channel state information (CSI) associated with the wireless channel that the beamformer intends to communicate with the beamforming.

[0069]

[0084] To obtain the CSI required for beamforming, the beamformer may perform a channel sounding procedure with the beamforming. For example, the beamformer may transmit one or more sounding signals (e.g., in the form of NDPs) to the beamforming. The NDP is a PPDU that does not contain a data field. The beamforming corresponds to all N TX ×N RXMeasurements may be performed for each of the subchannels. The beamformer generates a feedback matrix associated with the channel measurements and typically compresses the feedback matrix before sending the feedback to the beamformer. The beamformer generates a precoding (or "steering") matrix for the beamformer associated with the feedback and may use that steering matrix to precode the data stream and configure the amplitude and phase shifts for subsequent transmissions to the beamformer. The beamformer may use the steering matrix to determine (e.g., identify, detect, verify, calculate, or compute) how to transmit the signal on each of its antennas in order to perform beamforming. For example, the steering matrix may indicate the phase shift, power level, etc., to be used to transmit each signal on each of the beamformer's antennas.

[0070]

[0085] The transmitting device may support the use of diversity schemes. When beamforming is performed, the transmit beamforming array gain is N TX and N SS It is logarithmically proportional to the ratio. Therefore, within other constraints, when beamforming is performed to increase the gain, the quantity N of the transmitting antenna TX Increasing the number of transmitting antennas is generally desirable. Increasing the number of transmitting antennas also allows for more precise direction of transmissions or nulls. This is particularly advantageous in MU transmission contexts where reducing user-to-user interference is especially important.

[0071]

[0086] To increase spatial multiplexing capability, AP102 may support an increased number of spatial streams (e.g., up to 16 spatial streams). However, supporting additional spatial streams may result in increased CSI feedback overhead. Implicit CSI acquisition techniques can circumvent CSI feedback overhead by taking advantage of the assumption that UL and DL channels have reversible impulse responses (i.e., channel reversibility). For example, CSI feedback overhead can be reduced using implicit channel sounding procedures such as BFR techniques (for example, when STA104 transmits NDP sounding packets in the UL while AP102 measures the channel) because no implicit beamforming report (BFR) is transmitted. Upon receiving the NDP, AP102 may implicitly evaluate the channel for each STA104 and use the channel evaluation to construct a steering matrix. To mitigate hardware mismatches that could violate channel reversibility on UL and DL (such as non-reversible baseband-RF chains and RF-baseband chains), AP102 may implement calibration methods to compensate for mismatches between UL and DL channels. For example, AP102 may select a reference antenna, transmit pilot signals from each of its antennas, and estimate the baseband-to-RF gain for each of the non-reference antennas relative to the reference antenna.

[0072]

[0087] In some implementations, multiple AP102s can transmit to one or more STA104s simultaneously using a distributed MU-MIMO scheme. Examples of such distributed MU-MIMO transmission include coordinated beamforming (CBF) and joint transmission (JT). Using CBF, a signal (such as a data stream) for a given STA104 can be transmitted by only a single AP102. However, the coverage areas of neighboring AP102s may overlap, and a signal transmitted by a given AP102 may reach an STA104 in an OBSS associated with a neighboring AP102 as an OBSS signal. CBF allows multiple neighboring AP102s to transmit simultaneously while minimizing or avoiding interference, which can provide more opportunities for space reuse. More specifically, using the CBF technique, AP102 can beamform a signal to STA104 in the BSS while forming a null in the direction of STA104 within STA104, such that any signal received in the OBSS STA is low enough power to limit interference in STA104. To achieve this, an inter-BSS coordination set containing identifiers for all AP102 and STA104 involved in CBF transmission can be defined among neighboring AP102s.

[0073]

[0088] Using JT, a signal for a given STA104 can be transmitted by multiple coordinated AP102s. For multiple AP102s to simultaneously transmit data to the STA104, each AP102 may require a copy of the data to be transmitted to the STA104. Therefore, the AP102s may need to exchange data with each other for transmission to the STA104. In JT, the combination of antennas of multiple AP102s transmitting to one or more STA104s can be considered as one large antenna array (which may be represented as a virtual antenna array) used for beamforming and signal transmission. Combined with MU-MIMO techniques, multiple antennas of multiple AP102s may be able to transmit data through multiple spatial streams. Thus, each STA104 may receive data through one or more of these spatial streams.

[0074]

[0089] AP102 and STA104 can support multi-user (MU) communication, i.e., simultaneous transmission from one device to each of multiple devices (e.g., multiple simultaneous downlink (DL) communications from AP102 to the corresponding STA104), or simultaneous transmission from multiple devices to a single device (e.g., multiple simultaneous uplink (UL) transmissions from the corresponding STA104 to AP102). To support MU transmission, AP102 and STA104 may utilize multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology and multi-user orthogonal frequency division multiple access (MU-OFDMA) technology.

[0075]

[0090] In the MU-OFDMA scheme, the available frequency spectrum of a wireless channel can be divided into multiple RUs, each containing multiple frequency subcarriers (also called "tones"). Different RUs can be allocated or assigned by AP102 to different STA104 at a given time. The size and distribution of RUs can be referred to as RU allocation. In some implementations, RUs can be allocated at 2MHz intervals, so the smallest RU may contain 26 tones, consisting of 24 data tones and 2 pilot tones. As a result, a 20MHz channel can have up to 9 RUs allocated (e.g., a 2MHz, 26-tone RU), as some tones are reserved for other purposes. Similarly, a 160MHz channel can have up to 74 RUs allocated. Larger RUs of 52, 106, 242, 484, and 996 tones can also be allocated. Adjacent RUs may be separated by null subcarriers (such as DC subcarriers) for purposes such as reducing interference between adjacent RUs, reducing the receiver's DC offset, and avoiding transmission center frequency leakage.

[0076]

[0091] In the case of UL MU transmission, AP102 may send a trigger frame to initiate and synchronize UL MU-OFDMA or UL MU-MIMO transmissions from multiple STA104 to AP102. Thus, such a trigger frame may enable multiple STA104 to transmit UL traffic to AP102 simultaneously. The trigger frame may address one or more STA104 through corresponding association identifiers (AIDs), and each AID (and therefore each STA104) may be assigned one or more RUs that can be used to transmit UL traffic to AP102. AP102 may also designate one or more random access (RA) RUs that unscheduled STA104s may compete for.

[0077]

[0092] Figures 5A and 5B show examples of NDPA frames 500 and trigger frames 501 that can be used for communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs, respectively. The NDPA frames 500 and trigger frames 501 can implement or be implemented by an embodiment of the WLAN 100. For example, one or both of the NDPA frames 500 or trigger frames 501 may be transmitted by a wireless AP such as the wireless AP 102 described with reference to Figure 1. The NDPA frame 500 includes a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a sounding dialog token field 502, STA information fields 1 to n (where n is a positive integer), and an FCS field. The trigger frame 501 includes a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a common information field 504, a user information list field 506, a padding field, and an FCS field.

[0078]

[0093] As described herein, several wireless networks may support different NDPA variations. For example, an NDPA frame 500 may have an HE / EHT NDPA variation frame format. The variation or type of an NDPA frame 500 can be identified by an NDPA variation subfield in the sounding dialog token field 502. The NDPA variation subfield may have a length of 2 bits and may support up to four different NDPA variations. However, new or additional NDPA variations may not be supported when there are more NDPA variations than can be signaled by the bits in the NDPA variation subfield. For example, if the 2 bits in the NDPA variation subfield are currently being used to signal the VHT, ranging, HE, and EHT variations of NDPA, additional NDPA variations such as the UHR variation may not be supported.

[0079]

[0094] The 802.11bf (sensing) variant was introduced by classifying the sensing NDPA as a ranging NDPA and setting bit 31 (B31) in the STA information field, which has an AID equal to 2045, to 1. The techniques described herein, including referring to Figure 5A, may enable communication devices to signal additional NDPA variants, such as UHR NDPA variants. Some implementations of the subject matter described herein may incorporate aspects of existing NDPA frame formats. Some other implementations of the subject matter described herein may utilize different frame formats, such as NDPA trigger frame formats.

[0080]

[0095] In the example in Figure 5B, the trigger type subfield of the trigger frame 501 may be set to indicate NDPA. The trigger type subfield may have a length of 4 bits and may have at least 6 available (e.g., unused) values. The common information field 504 may be updated to signal common parameters specific to NDPA, such as a 2-bit or 3-bit NDPA variation subfield, where one variation signaled by the NDPA variation subfield (e.g., the first variation) is the UHR variation. Additionally or alternatively, the common information field 504 may include 2-bit or 3-bit values ​​indicating a sounding mode, such as trigger-based, non-trigger-based, UL, joint, or multi-AP (MAP), among other implementations. The common information field 504 may also indicate other parameters related to sounding.

[0081]

[0096] In some implementations, unused subfields of the common information field 504 (such as UL space reuse or UL HE SIG-A2) can be overloaded. Alternatively, these parameters can be added to the trigger-dependent common information field. The common information field 504 may also indicate common trigger parameters to ensure that trigger-based sounding is performed correctly. These parameters may include UL length, UL bandwidth, guard interval (GI), and LTF type, or AP transmit power, among other implementations. In the case of non-trigger-based sounding, these fields can be omitted. Therefore, the common information field 504 can be used to indicate the contents of a single user information field.

[0082]

[0097] The user information list field 506 of the trigger frame 501 may contain one or more user information fields, the contents of which are valid for trigger-based sounding. Trigger-dependent user information fields may contain per-user sounding parameters (i.e., which information the NDPA's STA information fields are used to convey, excluding duplicate information). For non-trigger-based sounding, the contents of the STA information fields can be carried in the user information field or the common information field 504.

[0083]

[0098] Figure 6 shows an example of signaling diagram 600 supporting a sounding technique for UHR communication. Signaling diagram 600 may implement an embodiment of WLAN 100 or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, signaling diagram 600 includes AP 602, which may be an example of an embodiment of AP 102 as described with reference to Figure 1. Signaling diagram 600 also includes STA 604, which may be an example of one of the STA 104s as described with reference to Figure 1. STA 604 and AP 602 may communicate within AP 602's coverage area 608. Signaling diagram 600 illustrates exemplary UHR NDPA frame-based sounding sequences and exemplary NDPA trigger frame-based sounding sequences.

[0084]

[0099] In some WLANs, the NDPA frame may precede the transmission of the NDP. Upon receiving the NDPA frame from AP602, STA604 may prepare to receive and measure the NDP from AP602. STA604 may then transmit a CBF containing the CQI estimate, beamforming parameters, and other information derived from the NDP measurements. In non-trigger-based sounding modes, STA604 may transmit the CBF using the parameters indicated by the NDPA. In trigger-based sounding modes, STA604 may receive a BFRP trigger frame indicating which parameters should be used for transmitting the CBF. In some implementations, the NDPA may have specific variations / types, such as HE, EHT, or VHT, among others. Specific variations of the NDPA may be indicated by the NDPA variation field within the NDPA. However, existing NDPA frame structures may support a limited number of NDPA variations.

[0085]

[0100] The embodiments of signaling diagram 600 may support techniques for increasing the number of NDPA deformations that can be signaled between AP602 and STA604. Some embodiments more specifically provide UHR NDPA frame deformations 610 and NDPA trigger frame deformations 618. In some implementations, to increase the number of NDPA deformations that can be signaled, the length of the NDPA deformation field in the UHR NDPA frame deformation 610 may be extended from 2 bits to 4 bits, thereby enabling the communication device to indicate additional NDPA deformations. Additionally or alternatively, reserved bits or special AIDs in the STA information field of the UHR NDPA frame deformation 610 may be used to indicate specific NDPA deformations (such as UHR NDPA deformations).

[0086]

[0101] Upon receiving a UHR NDPA frame deformation 610 from AP602, STA604 may monitor the UHR NDP612 using the sounding parameters indicated by the UHR NDPA frame deformation 610. STA604 may then transmit a CBF616 containing compressed beamforming information, CQI estimates, and / or other feedback information associated with the UHR NDP612. In some implementations, STA604 may transmit the CBF616 using the parameters indicated by the UHR NDPA frame deformation 610. In other implementations, AP602 may transmit a BFRP trigger frame 614 instructing STA604 to use specific transmit parameters for the CBF616. Alternatively, STA604 may select appropriate transmit parameters based on measurements of the UHR NDP612.

[0087]

[0102] In other implementations, AP602 may signal an NDPA to STA604 in the form of an NDPA trigger frame variant 618. The trigger type field of the NDPA trigger frame variant 618 can be set to a specific value to indicate an NDPA. The common information field in the NDPA trigger frame variant 618 can be used to convey more information about the corresponding NDPA, such as the NDPA variant or the sounding mode for NDP620. The NDPA trigger frame variant 618 may also indicate parameters for transmission to CBF616.

[0088]

[0103] The embodiments of signaling diagram 600 can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between AP602 and STA604 by enabling, for example, STA604 to use UHR NDP612 for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation 618 to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures by, for example, eliminating the need for BFRP trigger frame 614. The NDPA trigger frame variation 618 described herein may also enable communication devices (such as STA604) to use UHR PPDU for sounding, which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between STA604 and AP602.

[0089]

[0104] Figure 7 shows an example of an NDPA frame 700 that supports a sounding technique for UHR communication. The NDPA frame 700 may be an example of other NDPA frames described herein, such as the NDPA frame 500 described with reference to Figure 5A. The NDPA frame 700 may be transmitted by a communication device, such as one of the wireless AP 102 or wireless STA 104 described with reference to Figure 1. The NDPA frame 700 includes a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a sounding dialogue token field 702, an STA information field 704 (hereinafter referred to as STA information field 1), an STA information field 706 (hereinafter referred to as STA information field n), and an FCS field.

[0090]

[0105] As described herein, an NDPA frame 700 may precede the transmission of an NDP. Upon receiving an NDPA frame 700 from a second communication device (such as a wireless AP), a first communication device (such as a wireless STA) may prepare to receive and measure the NDP from the second communication device. The first communication device may then transmit a CBF including CQI estimates, beamforming parameters, and other information derived from the NDP measurements. In a non-trigger-based sounding mode, the first communication device may transmit a CBF using the parameters indicated by the NDPA frame 700. In a trigger-based sounding mode, the first communication device may receive a BFRP trigger frame indicating which parameters should be used for transmitting the CBF. In some implementations, the NDPA frame 700 may have specific variations / types (such as HE, EHT, or VHT). Specific variations of the NDPA frame 700 may be indicated by an NDPA variation subfield 708 within the NDPA. However, existing NDPA frame structures may support a limited number of NDPA deformations.

[0091]

[0106] Aspects of this disclosure may support techniques for increasing the number of NDPA variations that can be signaled between communication devices. Some aspects more specifically provide UHR NDPA frame variations (as shown in the example in Figure 7) and NDPA trigger frame variations. In some implementations, to increase the number of NDPA variations that can be signaled, the length of the NDPA variation subfield 708 in the NDPA frame 700 may be extended from 2 bits to 4 bits, thereby enabling communication devices to indicate additional NDPA variations. Additionally or alternatively, reserved bits or special AID 712 in the STA information field 704 of the NDPA frame 700 may be used to indicate specific NDPA variations (such as UHR NDPA variations).

[0092]

[0107] Upon receiving an NDPA frame 700 from a second communication device, the first communication device may monitor the NDP using the sounding parameters indicated by the NDPA frame 700. The first communication device may then transmit a CBF containing compressed beamforming information, CQI estimates, and / or other feedback information associated with the NDP. In some implementations, the first communication device may transmit the CBF using parameters indicated by the NDPA frame 700 (e.g., common parameter 716). In other implementations, the second communication device may transmit a BFPR trigger frame instructing the first communication device to use specific transmit parameters for the CBF. Alternatively, the first communication device may select appropriate transmit parameters based on NDP measurements.

[0093]

[0108] In other implementations, a second communication device may signal an NDPA using an NDPA trigger frame deformation. The trigger type field in the NDPA trigger frame deformation can be set to a specific value to indicate an NDPA. The common information field in the NDPA trigger frame deformation can be used to convey more information about the corresponding NDPA, such as the NDPA deformation or the sounding mode for the NDP. The NDPA trigger frame deformation may also indicate parameters for CBF transmission.

[0094]

[0109] The format of the NDPA frame 700 may be similar to the HE / EHT variant NDPA frame format. To support additional NDPA variants (such as the UHR variant), the variant space of the sounding dialog token field 702 of the NDPA frame 700 may be extended. For example, the NDPA variant subfield 708 may be extended from 2 bits to 4 bits (therefore increasing the number of available variants), and the sounding dialog token amount subfield 710 may be reduced from 6 bits to 4 bits. Additionally or alternatively, and possibly initially, a special STA information field (such as STA information field 1) may be used to indicate a particular NDPA variant. This special STA information field may be interpreted as a common information field having a special AID 712 (such as 2045).

[0095]

[0110] NDPA variations may also be referred to (or associated with) the PHY version / generation. In some implementations, an NDPA variation extension subfield 714 (having a length of 2 or 3 bits) may be defined and used to indicate additional NDPA variations. The remaining bits in the special STA information field may be used to indicate common parameters 716 for the sounding sequence applicable to all beamformers. The remaining bits may also be used to distinguish sounding modes such as non-trigger-based, trigger-based, UL, joint, and MAP. In some other implementations, the NDPA frame 700 may distinguish between STA information fields for UHR STAs (e.g., STAs supporting UHR communication) and non-UHR STAs. For example, B31 of the STA information field n may be set to 1 to indicate a UHR NDPA variation.

[0096]

[0111] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figure 7 can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling the first communication device to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0097]

[0112] Figures 8A and 8B show examples of communication timelines 800 and 801, respectively, that support sounding techniques for UHR communication. Communication timelines 800 and 801 may implement or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, embodiments of communication timelines 800 and 801 may be implemented by one or more of STA 104 or AP 102 as described with reference to Figure 1. Communication timelines 800 and 801 may illustrate NDPA-based sounding sequences that natively support non-trigger-based sounding (both AP and STA sides) and trigger-based sounding (AP side as beamformer). The trigger-based sounding sequence shown in the example of Figure 8B may use a BFRP trigger frame 814 to initiate polling.

[0098]

[0113] In the example of Figure 8A, the second communication device (such as AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1) may transmit NDPA810-a after performing a backoff procedure. NDPA810-a may include a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a sounding dialog token field, a first STA information field, and an FCS field. Thus, the second communication device may transmit NDP812 using the sounding parameters indicated by NDPA810-a. A short interframe space (SIFS) may exist between NDPA810-a and NDP812. After receiving NDPA810-a and NDP812 from the second communication device, the first communication device (such as STA604 as described with reference to Figure 6) may transmit CBF816, which includes compressed beamforming information and a CQI estimate / calculated value derived from NDP812. Another SIFS may exist between the termination of NDP812 and the start of CBF816.

[0099]

[0114] In the example of Figure 8B, the second communication device may transmit NDPA810-b after performing a backoff procedure. NDPA810-b may include a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a sounding dialog token field, multiple STA information fields (e.g., n STA information fields), and an FCS field. At least one of the STA information fields may correspond to the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device may transmit NDP812 using the sounding parameters indicated by NDPA810-b. SIFS may exist between NDPA810-b and NDP812. After receiving NDPA810-b and NDP812 from the second communication device, the first communication device (such as STA604 as described with reference to Figure 6) may transmit CBF816, which includes compressed beamforming information and a CQI estimate / calculated value derived from NDP812. A first communication device may transmit a CBF816 using parameters indicated by one of the STA information fields from the BFRP trigger frame 814 and / or NDPA810-b. A second communication device may also receive a CBF816 from a third communication device associated with another AID indicated by one of the STA information fields of NDPA810-b.

[0100]

[0115] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figures 8A and 8B can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling a first communication device to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0101]

[0116] Figures 9A and 9B show examples of communication timelines 900 and 901, respectively, that support sounding techniques for UHR communication. Embodiments of communication timelines 900 and 901 may implement an embodiment of WLAN 100, or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, embodiments of communication timelines 900 and 901 may be implemented by one or more of AP102 or STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1. Communication timelines 900 and 901 may illustrate NDPA trigger frame-based sounding sequences. Specifically, communication timeline 900 illustrates an example of a non-trigger-based sounding sequence, and communication timeline 901 illustrates an example of a trigger-based sounding sequence.

[0102]

[0117] In the example of Figure 9A, a first communication device (such as STA604 as described with reference to Figure 6) may receive an NDPA trigger frame 910-a from a second communication device (such as AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1). The second communication device may transmit an NDPA trigger frame 910-a after performing a backoff procedure. The NDPA trigger frame 910-a may include a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a common information field (non-trigger-based), and an FCS field. Thus, the first communication device may receive an NDP912 from the second communication device using one or more sounding parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame 910-a. A SIFS may exist between the NDPA trigger frame 910-a and the NDP912, as shown in the communication timeline 900. After receiving the NDP912, the first communication device may transmit a CBF916 containing compressed beamforming information and / or CQI estimates derived from the measurements of the NDP912. Another SIFS may exist between NDP912 and CBF916.

[0103]

[0118] In the example of Figure 9B, the first communication device may receive an NDPA trigger frame 910-b from the second communication device. The second communication device may transmit an NDPA trigger frame 910-b after performing a backoff procedure. The NDPA trigger frame 910-b may include a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a common information field (trigger base), multiple STA information fields (e.g., n STA information fields), and an FCS field. Thus, the first communication device may receive an NDP 912 from the second communication device using one or more sounding parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame 910-b. A SIFS may exist between the NDPA trigger frame 910-b and the NDP 912, as shown in the communication timeline 901. After receiving the NDP 912, the second communication device may transmit a CBF 916 containing compressed beamforming information and / or a CQI estimate derived from the measurements of the NDP 912. A second communication device may receive a CBF from a communication device having an AID corresponding to one present in the STA information field of the NDPA trigger frame 910-b. Another SIFS may exist between NDP912 and CBF916.

[0104]

[0119] Using NDPA trigger frames can natively support and improve non-trigger-based sounding (both AP and STA sides), and it can also be sequential. For example, in communication timeline 900, the beamformer can select which parameters to use for CBF transmission, while the beamformer can control the UL PPDU duration via the UL length field of the NDPA trigger frame 910-a, thereby providing greater TXOP duration reliability. NDPA trigger frames can also natively support trigger-based sounding (both AP and STA sides). For example, in communication timeline 901, the beamformer can use NDPA trigger frame 910-b to specify which parameters the beamformer(s) are expected to use for CBF(s) transmission, thereby eliminating the need for a BFRP trigger frame, as NDPA trigger frame 910-a displays the same information.

[0105]

[0120] In some implementations, the UHR PPDU can be defined such that a bit in SIG-A indicates that the UHR PPDU can be used for sounding (similar to NDP). The BSS color, UL flag, and other fields in SIG-A and SIG-B can also be used to reduce the amount of beamforming. The UHR PPDU can be used to transmit the NDPA trigger frame (e.g., a duplicate UHR PPDU). Therefore, a separate NDP sounding PPDU may not be required, which can provide additional processing time for beamforming.

[0106]

[0121] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figures 9A and 9B can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling communication devices to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0107]

[0122] Figures 10A and 10B show examples of communication timelines 1000 and 1001, respectively, that support sounding techniques for UHR communication. Communication timelines 1000 and 1001 may implement or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, communication timelines 1000 and 1001 may be implemented by one or more of AP102 or STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1. Communication timelines 1000 and 1001 illustrate examples of sounding sequences within a BSS. Specifically, communication timeline 1000 illustrates an example of a non-trigger-based sounding sequence for UL MU sounding, and communication timeline 1001 illustrates an example of a trigger-based sounding sequence for SU sounding.

[0108]

[0123] As described herein, a first communication device (such as a wireless STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1) may receive an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and contains sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The first communication device may receive an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication. Thus, the first communication device may perform UHR communication with a second communication device (such as an AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1) using one or more communication parameters based on the measurement of the NDP, according to the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication.

[0109]

[0124] Additionally or alternatively, the first communication device may receive a trigger frame (such as the NDPA trigger frame variant 618, as described with reference to Figure 6) indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA (e.g., trigger-based, non-trigger-based, MAP, UL, joint), and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF (such as CBF 916, as described with reference to Figure 9B) associated with the NDP. The first communication device may then receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. Thus, the first communication device may transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0110]

[0125] In the example in Figure 10A, the AP may use the NDPA trigger frame 1010 to request (e.g., request) a UHR NDP 1012 from one or more STAs. The AP may send the NDPA trigger frame 1010 after performing a backoff. A SIFS may exist between the NDPA trigger frame 1010 and the UHR NDP 1012. In some implementations, the UHR NDP 1012 may aggregate a basic CBF calculated using the NDPA trigger frame 1010, possibly along with a current buffer status report. MPDU and HTC (potentially control) can be used as alternatives to the NDP. In the communication timeline 900, the AP may send a basic trigger frame 1016 with transmit parameters for each STA, taking into account the buffer status reports received from each STA. If an STA reports 0, the STA may not be polled. A channel status estimate can be obtained based on the received sounding NDP. The basic trigger frame 1016 may request (e.g., request) data 1018 from the STA. After receiving data 1018, the AP may send a multi-BA (M-BA) 1020 containing feedback for each of the STAs.

[0111]

[0126] In the example in Figure 10B, STA1 may request a UHR NDP 1012 from peer STA2 using an NDPA trigger frame 1010. STA1 may send the NDPA trigger frame 1010 after performing a backoff. A SIFS may exist between the NDPA trigger frame 1010 and the UHR NDP 1012. In some implementations, the UHR NDP 1012 may include a buffer status report and, possibly, a CBF from STA2. The pending data can be sent using transmit parameters calculated from the reported CBF. In some implementations, the base trigger frame 1016 can be aggregated with data 1018 to request the pending data 1018 at STA2. As described herein, STA2 may use transmit parameters that take into account channel status estimates based on the received sounding NDP(s). STA2 may send a BA 1022 for data 1018 from STA1 along with the pending data 1018 requested by the base trigger frame 1016. Therefore, STA1 may transmit BA1024 for data 1018 received from STA2.

[0112]

[0127] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figures 10A and 10B can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling communication devices to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0113]

[0128] Figures 11A and 11B show examples of communication timelines 1100 and 1101, respectively, that support sounding techniques for UHR communication. Communication timelines 1100 and 1101 may implement or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, communication timelines 1100 and 1101 may be implemented by one or more of AP102 or STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1. Communication timelines 1100 and 1101 may illustrate examples of sounding sequences for MAP deployment. Specifically, communication timeline 1100 illustrates an example of a trigger-based sounding sequence for UL MAP sounding, and communication timeline 1101 illustrates an example of a trigger-based sounding sequence for downlink MAP sounding.

[0114]

[0129] As described herein, a first communication device (such as a wireless STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1) may receive an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and contains sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The first communication device may receive an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication. Thus, the first communication device may perform UHR communication with a second communication device (such as an AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1) using one or more communication parameters based on the measurement of the NDP, according to the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication.

[0115]

[0130] Additionally or alternatively, the first communication device may receive a trigger frame (such as the NDPA trigger frame variant 618, as described with reference to Figure 6) indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA (e.g., trigger-based, non-trigger-based, MAP, UL, joint), and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF (such as CBF 916, as described with reference to Figure 9B) associated with the NDP. The first communication device may then receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. Thus, the first communication device may transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0116]

[0131] In the example in Figure 11A, if the STA has pending uplink data to send, the STA may sound one or more APs using the NDPA trigger frame 1110. The STA may send the NDPA trigger frame 1110 after performing a backoff. One or more APs may send a UHR NDP 1112 back to the STA using the sounding parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame 1110. A SIFS may exist between the UHR NDP 1112 and the NDPA trigger frame 1110. After receiving the UHR NDP 1112, the STA may select the best AP (e.g., the AP with the most preferred connection quality) or set of APs and send uplink data 1116 (e.g., MU PPDU) to the selected APs. In some implementations, the uplink data 1116 may be aggregated with the base trigger frame. Thus, the selected APs may send a BA 1120 for the uplink data 1116.

[0117]

[0132] In the example in Figure 11B, if an STA in power-saving mode determines that AP1 and AP2 have pending downlink data, the STA can sound these APs using an NDPA trigger frame 1110. An STA in power-saving mode may read (e.g., decode) a beacon frame to determine the availability of pending downlink data from a Traffic Indicator Map (TIM) element. In some implementations, the STA may implicitly sound AP1 and AP2 based on a beacon frame or other similar frame. Thus, the STA may send a basic trigger frame 1124 addressed to one or more of the APs to request downlink data 1126 from the APs. Alternatively, the STA may send a CBF to the APs so that the APs can calculate / select the appropriate transmit parameters, in which case the downlink data 1126 may be sent sequentially by each AP (or using FDMA). The STA may then send an M-BA 1130 for the downlink data 1126.

[0118]

[0133] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figures 11A and 11B can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling communication devices to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0119]

[0134] Figures 12A and 12B show examples of an NDPA frame 1200 and a communication timeline 1201, respectively, that support sounding techniques for UHR communication. The NDPA frame 1200 and the communication timeline 1201 may implement an embodiment of WLAN 100, or may be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, the communication timeline 1201 may be implemented by one or more of AP 102 or STA 104 as described with reference to Figure 1. The NDPA frame 1200 may be an example of an NDPA frame 500, an NDPA frame 700, or both, as described with reference to Figures 5A and 7, respectively.

[0120]

[0135] As described herein, a first communication device (such as a wireless STA104 as described with reference to Figure 1) may receive an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and contains sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The first communication device may receive an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with the UHR NDPA variant type, based on the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication. Thus, the first communication device may perform UHR communication with a second communication device (such as an AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1) using one or more communication parameters based on the measurement of the NDP, according to the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication.

[0121]

[0136] Additionally or alternatively, the first communication device may receive a trigger frame (such as the NDPA trigger frame variation 618, as described with reference to Figure 6) indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA (e.g., trigger-based, non-trigger-based, MAP, UL, joint), and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF (such as the CBF 916, as described with reference to Figure 9A) associated with the NDP. The first communication device may then receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. Thus, the first communication device may transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0122]

[0137] In the example in Figure 12A, a CMF field 1202 may be added to the NDPA frame 1200 to provide NDPA frame protection. A message integrity check (MIC) 1210 may be calculated across the NDPA frame body, including the sounding dialog token and STA information list fields. The CMF field 1202 may be applicable to STAs that support UHR communication. Other STAs (such as HE / EHT STAs) may ignore / discard the CMF field 1202 but continue to process the NDPA frame 1200. The MIC 1210 may be contained in the CMF field 1202 and may be followed by a useful STA information list field. Cipher-based message authentication codes (CMAC) or Galois message authentication codes (GMAC) can be used for MIC calculation, and an Integrity Group Key (IGTK) may be used to calculate the MIC. An integrity packet number (IPN) 1208 may be used for NDPA frame replay protection. Padding 1204 can be achieved by adding STA information fields for other STAs. The UHR STA can discard received NDPA frames if there is a MIC mismatch. In such cases, the STA does not need to calculate / generate sounding feedback, thereby resulting in power / resource savings.

[0123]

[0138] In the example of Figure 12B, a first communication device (such as STA604 as described with reference to Figure 6) may receive a UHR NDPA frame 1212 from a second communication device (such as AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1). The UHR NDPA frame 1212 may contain sounding information for communication devices that support UHR communication. Based on the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication, the first communication device may receive a UHR NDP 1214 according to the sounding information from the UHR NDPA frame 1212. Thus, the first communication device may transmit a UHR CBF 1216 using the transmission parameters indicated by the UHR NDPA frame 1212 or selected by the first communication device. A UHR CBF 1216, which may be an example of an action frame, can be included in a protected MGMT frame, thereby preventing an attacker from sending a misleading or inaccurate CBF to the beamformer.

[0124]

[0139] Embodiments of the subject matter described with reference to Figures 12A and 12B can be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some implementations, using a modified NDPA frame format that supports additional NDPA variations can improve the resilience and efficiency of NDP-based sounding procedures between communication devices, for example, by enabling communication devices to use UHR NDP for trigger-based and non-trigger-based sounding procedures. In some other implementations, using an NDPA trigger frame variation to indicate NDPA can reduce the signaling overhead of trigger-based sounding procedures, for example, by eliminating the need for a separate BFRP trigger frame. The NDPA trigger frame format described herein can also enable communication devices to use UHR PPDU for sounding (as opposed to NDPs), which can further improve the signaling efficiency of sounding procedures between communication devices.

[0125]

[0140] Figure 13 shows an example of a process flow 1300 that supports a sounding technique for UHR communication. Process flow 1300 may implement an embodiment of WLAN 100 or be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, process flow 1300 includes communication devices 1302 and 1304, which may be examples of corresponding devices described herein, such as AP 102 or STA 104 as described with reference to Figure 1. In the following description of process flow 1300, the operations between communication devices 1302 and 1304 may be added, omitted, or performed in a different order (from the exemplary order shown).

[0126]

[0141] In 1306, communication device 1304 may receive a UHR NDPA variant from communication device 1302. The NDPA may contain sounding information for communication devices that support UHR communication. In some implementations, the NDPA may include a subfield indicating the UHR variant / type of the NDPA. The length of this subfield may be 4 bits. Additionally or alternatively, the UHR NDPA variant may include an STA information field containing a special or reserved AID (e.g., 2045), an NDPA variant extension subfield, and one or more sounding parameters applicable to all beamforms. In other implementations, the last bit of the STA information field in the UHR NDPA may be set to a specific value (e.g., 1) to indicate sounding information regarding the UHR STA.

[0127]

[0142] In 1308, communication device 1304 may receive a UHR NDP from communication device 1302 according to the sounding information indicated by the UHR NDPA. For example, communication device 1304 may receive a UHR NDP from communication device 1302 according to the non-trigger-based sounding mode, trigger-based sounding mode, uplink sounding mode, joint sounding mode, or multi-AP sounding mode indicated by the UHR NDPA. In some implementations, instead of sending a separate UHR NDP, communication device 1304 may send a UHR PPDU with an indicator that the UHR PPDU can be used for sounding.

[0128]

[0143] In some implementations (e.g., trigger-based sounding), communication device 1302 may transmit a BFRP trigger frame at 1310. The BFRP trigger frame may indicate the parameters to be used for transmitting the CBF associated with the UHR NDP. In other implementations (e.g., non-trigger-based sounding), these parameters may be included in or indicated by the UHR NDPA from communication device 1302. Alternatively, the transmit parameters may be selected by communication device 1304 (e.g., based on compressed beamforming and CQI estimates).

[0129]

[0144] In 1312, the communication device 1304 may perform compressed beamforming and CQI estimation based on receiving and measuring the UHR NDP from the communication device 1302 using common sounding parameters indicated by the UHR NDPA.

[0130]

[0145] In 1314, the communication device 1304 may transmit a CBF showing the determined beamforming parameters, CQI estimates, and other feedback information. In some implementations, the CBF may include a buffer status report for the communication device 1304. As described herein, the communication device 1304 may transmit a CBF using parameters indicated by a BFRP trigger frame (for trigger-based sounding) or a UHR NDPA (for non-trigger-based sounding).

[0131]

[0146] In 1316, communication device 1302 may perform UHR communication with communication device 1304 using parameters based on the CBF provided by communication device 1304. For example, communication device 1302 may use beamforming information, CQI estimates, or buffer status information reports provided by communication device 1304 to select or determine which parameters should be used for UHR communication.

[0132]

[0147] Figure 14 shows an example of a process flow 1400 that supports a sounding technique for UHR communication. Process flow 1400 may implement an embodiment of WLAN 100, or may be implemented by an embodiment of WLAN 100. For example, process flow 1400 includes communication devices 1402 and 1404, which may be examples of corresponding devices described herein, such as AP 102 or STA 104 as described with reference to Figure 1. In the following description of process flow 1400, the operations between communication devices 1402 and 1404 may be added, omitted, or performed in a different order (from the exemplary order shown).

[0133]

[0148] In 1406, communication device 1402 may transmit an NDPA trigger frame to communication device 1404. The NDPA trigger frame may indicate the sounding mode to be used for the next NDP transmission, the set of parameters to be used for the transmission of the CBF associated with the next NDP, and other sounding parameters. In some implementations, the trigger type field of the NDPA trigger frame may indicate a variation of the NDPA trigger frame (e.g., UHR, HE, EHT). The trigger type field may have a length of 4 bits. The NDPA trigger frame may also include a user information list field indicating additional or alternative sounding parameters. In some implementations, the NDPA trigger frame may be contained within a UHR PPDU.

[0134]

[0149] In some implementations, communication device 1402 may transmit an NDP to communication device 1404 in 1408. Communication device 1402 may transmit an NDP using the sounding mode indicated by the common information field of the NDPA trigger frame. In some other implementations (such as trigger-based uplink MU sounding), communication device 1404 may transmit an NDP to communication device 1402. Communication device 1404 may transmit an NDP using the sounding mode indicated by the common information field of the NDPA trigger frame.

[0135]

[0150] In 1410, if communication device 1402 receives an NDP from communication device 1404, then in 1412, communication device 1402 may perform compressed beamforming and CQI estimation (for example, by performing NDP measurements). If communication device 1404 receives an NDP from communication device 1402, then in 1414, communication device 1404 may perform compressed beamforming and CQI estimation. Compressed beamforming and CQI estimation may be performed according to various sounding and transmission parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame.

[0136]

[0151] In some implementations, at 1416, communication device 1402 may send the CBF back to communication device 1404. Communication device 1402 may transmit the CBF using the transmission parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame. In some other implementations, at 1418, communication device 1404 may send the CBF back to communication device 1402. Communication device 1404 may transmit the CBF using the transmission parameters indicated by the NDPA trigger frame. The CBF(s) may include metrics such as compressed beamforming information, CQI estimates, feedback information, and buffer status reports.

[0137]

[0152] In some implementations, after sending or receiving a CBF, communication device 1402 may send data to communication device 1404 at 1420. Additionally or alternatively, at 1422, communication device 1404 may send data to communication device 1402. In some implementations, the data may be aggregated or combined with a basic trigger frame or BA. For example, if a UHR NDP from communication device 1402 indicates that communication device 1402 has pending uplink or downlink data, communication device 1404 may send a basic trigger frame (with or without data) to request the pending data from communication device 1402.

[0138]

[0153] Figure 15 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communications device 1500 supporting a sounding technique for UHR communications, according to several aspects of the present disclosure. In various examples, the wireless communications device 1500 may be a chip, SoC, chipset, package, or device that includes one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) modem, or a cellular modem such as a 3GPP 4G LTE or 5G compliant modem), one or more processors, processing blocks, or processing elements (collectively, “at least one processor”), one or more radios (collectively, “radio”), and one or more memories or memory blocks (collectively, “at least one memory”).

[0139]

[0154] In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1500 may be a device used in an STA such as the STA104 described with reference to Figure 1. In some other implementations, the wireless communication device 1500 may be an STA including such a chip, SoC, chipset, package, or device, as well as multiple antennas. The wireless communication device 1500 is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications, for example, in the form of wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device may be configured or operable to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDU and MPDU conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1500 may also include or be coupled with an application processor which may be further coupled with another memory. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1500 may further include a user interface (UI) (such as a touchscreen or keypad) and a display, the display of which may be integrated with the UI to form a touchscreen display. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1500 may further include one or more sensors, such as one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors.

[0140]

[0155] The wireless communication device 1500 includes an NDPA component 1525, a sounding component 1530, a UHR component 1535, a trigger frame component 1540, a CBF component 1545, and a BFRP component 1550. One or more of the NDPA component 1525, the sounding component 1530, the UHR component 1535, the trigger frame component 1540, the CBF component 1545, and the BFRP component 1550 may be at least partially implemented in hardware or firmware. For example, one or more of the NDPA component 1525, the sounding component 1530, the UHR component 1535, the trigger frame component 1540, the CBF component 1545, and the BFRP component 1550 may be at least partially implemented by a modem. In some implementations, at least some of the NDPA component 1525, sounding component 1530, UHR component 1535, trigger frame component 1540, CBF component 1545, and BFRP component 1550 are implemented at least partially by at least one processor and as software stored in memory. For example, one or more of the NDPA component 1525, sounding component 1530, UHR component 1535, trigger frame component 1540, CBF component 1545, and BFRP component 1550 can be implemented as non-transient instructions (or "code") that can be executed by at least one processor to perform the function or operation of each module.

[0141]

[0156] In some implementations, at least one processor may be a component of the processing system. The processing system may generally refer to a system or set of machines or components that receive inputs, process those inputs, and produce a set of outputs (which may be passed to other systems or components of device 1500). For example, the processing system of device 1500 may refer to a system that includes various other components or sub-components of device 1500, such as at least one processor, or a transceiver, or a communications manager, or other components or combinations of components of device 1500. The processing system of device 1500 may interface with other components of device 1500 and process information (such as inputs or signals) received from or outputting information to other components. For example, the chip or modem of device 1500 may include the processing system, a first interface for outputting information, and a second interface for acquiring information.

[0142]

[0157] In some implementations, the first interface may refer to an interface between the chip or modem's processing system and the transmitter, so that device 1500 can transmit information output from the chip or modem. In some implementations, the second interface may refer to an interface between the chip or modem's processing system and the receiver, so that device 1500 can receive information or signal inputs, which can then be passed to the processing system. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the first interface may also acquire information or signal inputs, and the second interface may also output information or signal outputs.

[0143]

[0158] STA1520 may support wireless communication in a first communication device (such as device 1500) according to the examples disclosed herein. The NDPA component 1525 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The sounding component 1530 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving an NDP according to sounding information from an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication. The UHR component 1535 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for performing UHR communication with a second communication device, according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on NDP measurements.

[0144]

[0159] In some implementations, to support receiving NDPA frames, the NDPA component 1525 may, may, be configured to, or may be operable to support receiving a sounding dialog token field via the NDPA frame, which includes a 4-bit NDPA variant type subfield indicating the UHR NDPA variant type of the NDPA frame.

[0145]

[0160] In some implementations, in order to support receiving NDPA frames, the NDPA component 1525 may, may, be configured to, or may operate to support receiving an STA information field via the NDPA frame, which includes an association identifier associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, an NDPA variant extension subfield indicating the UHR NDPA variant type, one or more beamforming parameters relating to the sounding sequence associated with the NDP, a sounding mode for NDP transmission, or a combination thereof.

[0146]

[0161] In some implementations, the sounding mode includes a non-trigger-based sounding mode, a trigger-based sounding mode, an uplink sounding mode, a joint sounding mode, or a multi-AP sounding mode.

[0147]

[0162] In some implementations, to support receiving NDPA frames, the NDPA component 1525 is capable, configured, or operable to support means for receiving, via the NDPA frame, the last bit of the STA information field indicating the UHR NDPA variant type of the NDPA frame.

[0148]

[0163] In some implementations, the CBF component 1545 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting a CBF based on the reception of an NDP, the CBF representing compressed beamforming information associated with the NDP, CQI associated with the NDP, or both.

[0149]

[0164] In some implementations, the BFRP component 1550 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving BFRP trigger frames according to a trigger-based sounding mode, and transmitting a CBF is based on receiving a BFRP trigger frame.

[0150]

[0165] Additionally or alternatively, STA1520 may support wireless communication in a first communication device (such as device 1500) according to the examples disclosed herein. The trigger frame component 1540 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP. In some implementations, the sounding component 1530 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving or transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. The CBF component 1545 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting or receiving a CBF associated with an NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0151]

[0166] In some implementations, in order to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 is capable, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving a 4-bit trigger type field indicating NDPA via the trigger frame.

[0152]

[0167] In some implementations, to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 is capable, configured to support, or operable to support receiving, via the trigger frame, a common information field indicating one or more parameters associated with the NDPA, which include one or more parameters relating to the NDPA variant type, the sounding mode for NDP transmission, one or more beamforming parameters relating to the sounding sequence associated with the NDP, or a combination thereof.

[0153]

[0168] In some implementations, to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 is capable, configured, or operable to support receiving, via the trigger frame, a common information field indicating one or more trigger-based sounding parameters associated with the NDPA, including UL length, UL bandwidth, GI and LTF types, AP transmit power, or a combination thereof.

[0154]

[0169] In some implementations, one or more trigger-based sounding parameters are omitted from the trigger frame when a non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for NDP transmission.

[0155]

[0170] In some implementations, in order to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 may, may, be configured to, or may be operable to support receiving a user information list field via the trigger frame, which contains one or more user information subfields that are valid for trigger-based sounding.

[0156]

[0171] In some implementations, in order to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 may, may, be configured to, or may be operable to support receiving a user information list field via the trigger frame, which includes a trigger-dependent user information subfield indicating per-user sounding parameters to be used for receiving NDP.

[0157]

[0172] In some implementations, a non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for NDP transmission. In some implementations, the trigger frame includes a user information field or common information field containing content from one or more STA information subfields.

[0158]

[0173] In some implementations, to support sending or receiving CBFs, the CBF component 1545 is capable, configured, or operable to support means for sending a CBF using one or more transmission parameters selected by a first communication device.

[0159]

[0174] In some implementations, in order to support receiving trigger frames, the trigger frame component 1540 is capable, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving a UL length field indicating the UL PPDU duration of the NDP via the trigger frame.

[0160]

[0175] In some implementations, the UHR component 1535 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving a UHR PPDU, and the SIG-A field of the UHR PPDU includes a bit indicating whether the UHR PPDU can be used for sounding.

[0161]

[0176] In some implementations, in order to support receiving a UHR PPDU, the UHR component 1535 can, is configured to, or can operate to support, a means for receiving, via the UHR PPDU, one or both of the SIG-A field or the SIG-B field, which includes one or both of the BSS color subfield or the UL flag subfield, indicating one or more communication devices to which the UHR PPDU is applicable.

[0162]

[0177] In some implementations, the UHR PPDU contains a trigger frame indicating NDPA. In some implementations, the trigger frame contains a copy of the UHR PPDU.

[0163]

[0178] Figure 16 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communications device 1600 supporting a sounding technique for UHR communications, according to several aspects of the present disclosure. In various examples, the wireless communications device 1600 may be a chip, SoC, chipset, package, or device that includes one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) modem, or a cellular modem such as a 3GPP 4G LTE or 5G compliant modem), one or more processors, processing blocks, or processing elements (collectively, “at least one processor”), one or more radios (collectively, “radio”), and one or more memories or memory blocks (collectively, “at least one memory”).

[0164]

[0179] In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1600 may be a device used in an AP such as AP102 as described with reference to Figure 1. In some other implementations, the wireless communication device 1600 may be an AP including such a chip, SoC, chipset, package, or device, as well as multiple antennas. The wireless communication device 1600 is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications, for example, in the form of wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device may be configured or operable to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDU and MPDU compliant with one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1600 may also include or be coupled with an application processor which may be further coupled with another memory. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1600 may further include at least one external network interface that enables communication with a core network or backhaul network to gain access to an external network, including the Internet.

[0165]

[0180] The wireless communication device 1600 includes an NDPA frame component 1625, an NDP component 1630, a UHR communication component 1635, a CBF reporting component 1645, a MAP component 1650, a trigger component 1655, and a beacon frame component 1660. One or more of the NDPA frame component 1625, NDP component 1630, UHR communication component 1635, CBF reporting component 1645, MAP component 1650, trigger component 1655, and beacon frame component 1660 may be at least partially implemented in hardware or firmware. For example, one or more of the NDPA frame component 1625, NDP component 1630, UHR communication component 1635, CBF reporting component 1645, MAP component 1650, trigger component 1655, and beacon frame component 1660 may be at least partially implemented by a modem. In some implementations, at least some of the NDPA frame component 1625, NDP component 1630, UHR communication component 1635, CBF reporting component 1645, MAP component 1650, trigger component 1655, and beacon frame component 1660 are implemented at least partially by at least one processor and as software stored in memory. For example, one or more parts of the NDPA frame component 1625, NDP component 1630, UHR communication component 1635, CBF reporting component 1645, MAP component 1650, trigger component 1655, and beacon frame component 1660 can be implemented as non-transient instructions (or "code") that can be executed by at least one processor to perform the function or operation of each module.

[0166]

[0181] In some implementations, at least one processor may be a component of the processing system. The processing system may generally refer to a system or set of machines or components that receive inputs, process those inputs, and produce a set of outputs (which may be passed to other systems or components of device 1600, for example). For example, the processing system of device 1600 may refer to a system that includes various other components or sub-components of device 1600, such as at least one processor, or a transceiver, or a communications manager, or other components or combinations of components of device 1600. The processing system of device 1600 may interface with other components of device 1600 and process information (such as inputs or signals) received from or outputting information to other components. For example, the chip or modem of device 1600 may include a processing system, a first interface for outputting information, and a second interface for acquiring information.

[0167]

[0182] In some implementations, the first interface may refer to an interface between the chip or modem's processing system and the transmitter, so that device 1600 can transmit information output from the chip or modem. In some implementations, the second interface may refer to an interface between the chip or modem's processing system and the receiver, so that device 1600 can receive information or signal input, which can then be passed to the processing system. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the first interface may also receive information or signal input, and the second interface may also output information or signal output.

[0168]

[0183] AP1620 may support wireless communication in a second communication device (such as device 1600) according to the examples disclosed herein. The NDPA frame component 1625 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The NDP component 1630 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting an NDP according to sounding information from an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication. The UHR communication component 1635 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for performing UHR communication with the first communication device, according to the ability of the second communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on NDP measurements.

[0169]

[0184] Additionally or alternatively, AP1620 may support wireless communication in a second communication device (such as device 1600) according to the examples disclosed herein. The trigger component 1655 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP. In some implementations, the NDP component 1630 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting or receiving an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. The CBF reporting component 1645 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving or transmitting a CBF associated with an NDP according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0170]

[0185] In some implementations, the UHR communication component 1635 is capable, configured, or operable to support means for receiving each UHR NDP from one or more STAs in accordance with the NDPA indicated by the trigger frame, each UHR NDP including a CBF associated with the trigger frame, a buffer status report associated with one or more STAs, or both.

[0171]

[0186] In some implementations, the trigger component 1655 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for sending a second trigger frame indicating transmit parameters for each of one or more STAs, the transmit parameters being based on buffer status reports in each UHR NDP from one or more STAs, channel status estimates derived from each UHR NDP, or both.

[0172]

[0187] In some implementations, the second trigger frame is aggregated with pending data from the second communication device. In some implementations, the second trigger frame is used to request pending data from one or more stations.

[0173]

[0188] In some implementations, the MAP component 1650 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving UHR NDPs from one or more APs in accordance with the NDPA indicated by the trigger frame.

[0174]

[0189] In some implementations, the MAP component 1650 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting uplink data to at least first AP among one or more APs, based on the measurements of each UHR NDP.

[0175]

[0190] In some implementations, the trigger component 1655 can support, is configured to support, or can operate to support, means for sending a second trigger frame to at least a first AP of one or more APs based on the determination that the first AP has pending downlink data. In some implementations, the MAP component 1650 can support, is configured to support, or can operate to support, means for receiving some or all of the pending downlink data from the first AP in accordance with the second trigger frame.

[0176]

[0191] In some implementations, the beacon frame component 1660 is capable of, configured to support, or operable to support means for receiving a beacon frame from the first AP while the second communication device is in power-saving mode, and the TIM element of the beacon frame indicates pending downlink data from the first AP.

[0177]

[0192] In some implementations, the CBF reporting component 1645 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for selecting one or more transmit parameters based on the CBF. In some implementations, the UHR communication component 1635 is capable of supporting, configured to support, or operable to support means for transmitting downlink data to a first wireless communication device using one or more transmit parameters.

[0178]

[0193] Figure 17 shows a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 1700 that can be implemented in a first wireless communication device (such as a wireless STA) supporting a sounding technique for UHR communication according to several aspects of the present disclosure. The operation of process 1700 may be an example of how it is implemented by a wireless STA or its components. For example, process 1700 may be implemented by a wireless communication device 1500, which operates as a wireless STA or operates within a wireless STA, as described with reference to Figure 15. In some implementations, process 1700 may be implemented by a wireless STA, such as one of the STAs 104, as described with reference to Figure 1.

[0179]

[0194] In some implementations, in 1705, the first communication device may receive an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, which includes sounding information for a communication device supporting UHR communication. The operation of 1705 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1705 may be carried out by an NDPA component 1525, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0180]

[0195] In some implementations, in 1710, the first communication device may receive an NDP according to sounding information from an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication. The operation of 1710 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1710 may be carried out by a sounding component 1530, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0181]

[0196] In some implementations, in 1715, the first communication device may perform UHR communication with the second communication device using one or more communication parameters based on NDP measurements, according to the first communication device's ability to support UHR communication. The operation of 1715 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1715 may be carried out by the UHR component 1535, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0182]

[0197] Figure 18 shows a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 1800 that can be implemented in a first communication device (such as a wireless STA or wireless AP) supporting a sounding technique for UHR communication according to several aspects of this disclosure. The operation of process 1800 may be one example of how it is implemented by a wireless STA or wireless AP. For example, process 1800 may be implemented by a wireless communication device, such as a wireless communication device 1500, described with reference to Figure 15, which operates as a wireless STA or wireless AP, or operates within a wireless STA or wireless AP. In some implementations, process 1800 may be implemented by one of AP 102 or STA 104, described with reference to Figure 1.

[0183]

[0198] In some implementations, in 1805, the first communication device may receive a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP. The operation of 1805 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1805 may be carried out by a trigger frame component 1540, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0184]

[0199] In some implementations, in 1810, the first communication device may receive or transmit an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. The operation of 1810 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1810 may be carried out by the sounding component 1530, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0185]

[0200] In some implementations, in 1815, the first communication device may transmit or receive a CBF associated with the NDP according to a set of parameters indicated by a trigger frame. The operation of 1815 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1815 may be carried out by a CBF component 1545, as described with reference to Figure 15.

[0186]

[0201] Figure 19 shows a flowchart illustrating exemplary process 1900 that can be implemented in a second wireless communication device (such as a wireless AP) supporting a sounding technique for UHR communication according to several aspects of the present disclosure. The operation of method 1900 may be an example of how it is implemented by a wireless AP or its components. For example, process 1900 may be implemented by a wireless communication device 1600, as described with reference to Figure 16, which operates as a wireless AP or within a wireless AP. In some implementations, process 1900 may be implemented by AP 102, as described with reference to Figure 1.

[0187]

[0202] In some implementations, in 1905, the second communication device may transmit an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication. The operation of 1905 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1905 may be carried out by an NDPA frame component 1625, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0188]

[0203] In some implementations, in 1910, the second communication device may transmit an NDP according to sounding information from an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication. The operation of 1910 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1910 may be carried out by an NDP component 1630, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0189]

[0204] In some implementations, in 1915, the second communication device may perform UHR communication with the first communication device using one or more communication parameters based on NDP measurements, according to the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication. The operation of 1915 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 1915 may be carried out by the UHR component 1635, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0190]

[0205] Figure 20 shows a flowchart illustrating exemplary process 2000 that can be implemented in a second communication device (such as a wireless AP or wireless STA) supporting a sounding technique for UHR communication according to several aspects of this disclosure. The operation of process 2000 may be one example of how it is implemented by a wireless AP or wireless STA. For example, process 2000 may be implemented by a wireless communication device 1600, as described with reference to Figure 16, which operates as a wireless AP or wireless STA, or operates within a wireless AP or wireless STA. In some implementations, process 2000 may be implemented by one of AP 102 or STA 104, as described with reference to Figure 1.

[0191]

[0206] In some implementations, in 2005, the second communication device may transmit a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP. The operation of 2005 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 2005 may be carried out by a trigger component 1655, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0192]

[0207] In some implementations, in 2010, the second communication device may transmit or receive an NDP associated with the NDPA according to the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame. The operation of 2010 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 2010 may be carried out by the NDP component 1630, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0193]

[0208] In some implementations, in 2015, the second communication device may receive or transmit a CBF associated with the NDP according to a set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame. The operation of 2015 may be carried out according to the examples disclosed herein. In some implementations, the mode of operation of 2015 may be carried out by the CBF reporting component 1645, as described with reference to Figure 16.

[0194]

[0209] Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0195]

[0210] Clause 1: A method for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising: receiving an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; receiving an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication; and performing UHR communication with a second communication device, according to the ability of the first communication device to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on the measurement of the NDP.

[0196]

[0211] Clause 2: The method according to Clause 1, wherein receiving an NDPA frame includes receiving a sounding dialog token field via the NDPA frame, which includes a 4-bit NDPA variant type subfield indicating the UHR NDPA variant type of the NDPA frame.

[0197]

[0212] The method according to Clause 1 or 2, wherein receiving an NDPA frame includes receiving an STA information field via the NDPA frame, which includes an AID associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, an NDPA variant extension subfield indicating a UHR NDPA variant type, one or more beamforming parameters relating to a sounding sequence associated with the NDP, a sounding mode for NDP transmission, or a combination thereof.

[0198]

[0213] Clause 4: The method described in Clause 3, wherein the sounding mode includes a non-trigger-based sounding mode, a trigger-based sounding mode, an uplink sounding mode, a joint sounding mode, or a MAP sounding mode.

[0199]

[0214] Clause 5: Receiving an NDPA frame is the method described in any of Clauses 1 to 4, which includes receiving the last bit of the STA information field indicating the UHR NDPA variant type of the NDPA frame via the NDPA frame.

[0200]

[0215] Clause 6: The method in any of Clauses 1 to 5, further comprising transmitting a CBF based on receiving an NDP, wherein the CBF represents compressed beamforming information associated with the NDP, CQI associated with the NDP, or both.

[0201]

[0216] Clause 7: The method of Clause 6, which further includes receiving a BFRP trigger frame in accordance with a trigger-based sounding mode and transmitting a CBF based on receiving a BFRP trigger frame.

[0202]

[0217] Clause 8: A method for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising: receiving a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; receiving or transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA in accordance with the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and transmitting or receiving a CBF associated with the NDP in accordance with the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0203]

[0218] Clause 9: Receiving a trigger frame is the method described in Clause 8, which includes receiving a 4-bit trigger type field indicating NDPA via the trigger frame.

[0204]

[0219] Clause 10: The method of Clause 8 or 9, wherein receiving a trigger frame includes receiving, via the trigger frame, one or more parameters associated with the NDPA, and a common information field indicating one or more parameters, including one or more beamforming parameters relating to the NDPA variant type, the sounding mode for the NDP transmission, one or more beamforming parameters relating to the sounding sequence associated with the NDP, or a combination thereof.

[0205]

[0220] Clause 11: The method according to any one of Clauses 8 to 10, wherein receiving a trigger frame includes receiving, via the trigger frame, one or more trigger-based sounding parameters associated with the NDPA, including one or more trigger-based sounding parameters such as UL length, UL bandwidth, GI and LTF type, AP transmit power, or a combination thereof.

[0206]

[0221] Clause 12: One or more trigger-based sounding parameters are omitted from the trigger frame when a non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for NDP transmission, as described in Clause 11.

[0207]

[0222] Clause 13: Receiving a trigger frame is the method of any of Clauses 8 to 12, which includes receiving a user information list field via the trigger frame that contains one or more user information subfields that are valid for trigger-based sounding.

[0208]

[0223] Clause 14: Receiving a trigger frame is the method of any of Clauses 8 to 13, which includes receiving a user information list field via the trigger frame, which includes a trigger-dependent user information subfield indicating user-specific sounding parameters to be used for receiving NDP.

[0209]

[0224] Clause 15: A non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for NDP transmission, and the trigger frame includes a user information field or common information field containing content from one or more STA information subfields, as described in any of Clauses 8 to 14.

[0210]

[0225] Clause 16: Transmitting or receiving a CBF is the method of any of Clauses 8 to 15, which includes transmitting a CBF using one or more transmission parameters selected by the first communication device.

[0211]

[0226] Clause 17: Receiving a trigger frame is the method described in any of Clauses 8 to 16, which includes receiving a UL length field indicating the UL PPDU duration of the NDP via the trigger frame.

[0212]

[0227] Clause 18: The method of any of Clauses 8 to 17, further comprising receiving a UHR PPDU, wherein the SIG-A field of the UHR PPDU includes a bit indicating whether the UHR PPDU can be used for sounding.

[0213]

[0228] Clause 19: The method of Clause 18, wherein receiving a UHR PPDU includes receiving, via the UHR PPDU, one or both of the SIG-A field or the SIG-B field, which includes one or both of the BSS color subfield or the UL flag subfield indicating one or more communication devices to which the UHR PPDU is applicable.

[0214]

[0229] Clause 20: The UHR PPDU includes a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, and the trigger frame includes a copy of the UHR PPDU, as described in Clause 18 or 19.

[0215]

[0230] Clause 21: A method for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising: transmitting an NDPA frame, which is an NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type and includes sounding information for a communication device that supports UHR communication; transmitting an NDP according to the sounding information from the NDPA frame associated with a UHR NDPA variant type, based on the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication; and performing UHR communication with a first communication device, according to the second communication device's ability to support UHR communication, using one or more communication parameters based on measurements of the NDP.

[0216]

[0231] Clause 22: A method for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising: transmitting a trigger frame indicating an NDPA, a sounding mode for transmitting an NDP associated with the NDPA, and a set of parameters for transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP; transmitting or receiving an NDP associated with the NDPA in accordance with the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame; and receiving or transmitting a CBF associated with the NDP in accordance with the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

[0217]

[0232] Clause 23: The method of Clause 22, further comprising receiving the respective UHR NDPs from one or more STAs in accordance with the NDPA indicated by the trigger frame, the respective UHR NDPs including the CBF associated with the trigger frame, the buffer status report associated with one or more STAs, or both.

[0218]

[0233] Clause 24: Further comprising transmitting a second trigger frame indicating transmit parameters for each of one or more STAs, the transmit parameters being based on buffer status reports in each UHR NDP from one or more STAs, channel status estimates derived from each UHR NDP, or both, as described in Clause 23.

[0219]

[0234] Clause 25: The method of Clause 24, wherein a second trigger frame is aggregated with pending data from a second communication device, and the second trigger frame is used to request pending data from one or more STAs.

[0220]

[0235] Clause 26: The method of any of Clauses 22-25, further comprising receiving the respective UHR NDP from one or more APs in accordance with the NDPA indicated by the trigger frame.

[0221]

[0236] Clause 27: The method of Clause 26, further comprising transmitting uplink data to at least one of one or more APs based on the measurements of each UHR NDP.

[0222]

[0237] The method according to Clause 28: the method according to Clause 26 or 27, further comprising transmitting a second trigger frame to at least one of one or more APs based on the determination that the first AP has pending downlink data, and receiving some or all of the pending downlink data from the first AP in accordance with the second trigger frame.

[0223]

[0238] Clause 29: The method according to Clause 28, further comprising receiving a beacon frame from the first AP while the second communication device is in power saving mode, wherein the TIM element of the beacon frame indicates pending downlink data from the first AP.

[0224]

[0239] The method according to any of the terms in clauses 22 to 29, further comprising: selecting one or more transmit parameters based on the CBF; and transmitting downlink data to a first wireless communication device using one or more transmit parameters.

[0225]

[0240] Clause 31: An apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to at least one processor; and instructions stored in at least one memory and executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods described in Clauses 1 to 7.

[0226]

[0241] Clause 32: Apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising at least one means for carrying out the method described in any of Clauses 1 to 7.

[0227]

[0242] Clause 33: A non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a first communication device, wherein the code comprises instructions that can be executed by at least one processor to carry out the method described in any of Clauses 1 to 7.

[0228]

[0243] Clause 34: An apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to at least one processor; and instructions stored in at least one memory and executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods described in Clauses 8 to 20.

[0229]

[0244] Clause 35: Apparatus for wireless communication in a first communication device, comprising at least one means for carrying out the method described in any of Clauses 8 to 20.

[0230]

[0245] Clause 36: A non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a first communication device, wherein the code comprises instructions that can be executed by at least one processor to carry out the method described in any of Clauses 8 to 20.

[0231]

[0246] Clause 37: An apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to at least one processor; and instructions stored in at least one memory and executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method described in any of Clauses 21 to 21.

[0232]

[0247] Clause 38: Apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising at least one means for carrying out the method described in any of Clauses 21 to 21.

[0233]

[0248] Clause 39: A non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a second communication device, wherein the code comprises instructions that can be executed by at least one processor to carry out the method described in any of Clauses 21 to 21.

[0234]

[0249] Clause 40: An apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to at least one processor; and instructions stored in at least one memory and executable by at least one processor to cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods described in Clauses 22 to 30.

[0235]

[0250] Clause 41: Apparatus for wireless communication in a second communication device, comprising at least one means for carrying out the method described in any of Clauses 22 to 30.

[0236]

[0251] Clause 42: A non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing code for wireless communication in a second communication device, wherein the code comprises instructions that can be executed by at least one processor to carry out the method described in any of Clauses 22 to 30.

[0237]

[0252] As used herein, the terms “determine” or “decide” encompass a wide range of actions, and therefore “decide” can include calculating, manipulating, processing, deriving, investigating, searching (such as searching within tables, databases, or other data structures), inferring, confirming, measuring, etc. “Determine” can also include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data stored in memory), transmitting (such as transmitting information), etc. Furthermore, “decide” can also include resolving, selecting, obtaining, choosing, establishing, and other similar actions.

[0238]

[0253] Where used herein, the phrase "at least one of" the list of items refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to include a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, and abc. Where used herein, "or" is intended to be interpreted in an inclusive sense unless otherwise expressly indicated. For example, "a or b" may include a only, b only, or a combination of a and b.

[0239]

[0254] Where used herein, including in the claims, the article “a” preceding a noun is open-ended and understood to refer to “at least one” of those nouns or “one or more” of those nouns. Thus, the terms “one,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. For example, where a claim describes a “component” that performs one or more functions, each of the individual functions may be performed by a single component or by any combination of the components. Thus, a “component” having a characteristic or performing a function may refer to “at least one of one or more components” that has a particular characteristic or performs a particular function. Subsequent references to components introduced with the article “a” using the terms “that” or “the said” refer to any or all of the one or more components. For example, a component introduced with the article "a" shall be understood to mean "one or more components," and thereafter, referring to "the said component" in the claims shall be understood to be equivalent to referring to "at least one of the one or more components."

[0240]

[0255] As used herein, “based on” is intended to be interpreted in a comprehensive sense unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “based on” may be used interchangeably with “at least partially based on,” “associated with,” or “according to,” unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Specifically, unless the phrase “based on ‘a’ alone” or refers to an equivalent in the context, whatever “based on ‘a’” or “at least partially based on ‘a’” may be based on “a” alone or on “a” in combination with one or more other factors, conditions, or pieces of information.

[0241]

[0256] The various illustrative components, logic, logic blocks, modules, circuits, operations, and algorithmic processes described in relation to the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or combinations of hardware, firmware, or software, including the structures disclosed herein and their structural equivalents. The compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software is described conceptually in terms of functionality and is shown in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware, firmware, or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0242]

[0257] Various modifications of the embodiments described herein may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the claims should not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but should be given the broadest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles disclosed herein, and any novel features.

[0243]

[0258] Additionally, various features described herein in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented separately or in any preferred partial combination in multiple embodiments. Therefore, features may be described above as acting in a particular combination, and may even be initially claimed as such, but one or more features from a claimed combination can be removed from that combination in some implementations, and the claimed combination may also cover partial combinations or variations of partial combinations.

[0244]

[0259] Similarly, while operations are shown in a specific order in the drawings, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in a specific or sequential order shown, or that all illustrated operations be performed, in order to achieve the desired result. Furthermore, drawings may schematically represent one or more exemplary processes in the form of flowcharts or flow diagrams. However, other operations not shown can be incorporated into those schematically illustrated exemplary processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some situations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the program components and systems described can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged within multiple software products.

Claims

1. A device for wireless communication in a first communication device, At least one processor, At least one memory connected to the at least one processor, The memory is stored in at least one of the aforementioned memory, and the device is configured to A null data packet notification frame associated with a highly reliable null data packet notification variant type, comprising sounding information for a communication device supporting highly reliable communication, to cause a null data packet notification frame to be received. Based at least in part on the capability of the first communication device to support ultra-high reliability communication, the null data packet is received according to the sounding information from the null data packet notification frame associated with the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification variant type. An apparatus comprising: instructions executable by at least one processor to cause ultra-high reliability communication with a second communication device in accordance with the ability of the first communication device to support ultra-high reliability communication, using one or more communication parameters based at least in part on measurements of the null data packet.

2. In order to receive the null data packet notification frame, the instruction instructs the device to The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the null data packet notification frame to receive a sounding dialog token field having a 4-bit null data packet notification variation type subfield indicating the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification variation type of the null data packet notification frame.

3. In order to receive the null data packet notification frame, the instruction instructs the device to The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the null data packet notification frame to receive a station information field comprising an association identifier associated with the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification modification type, a null data packet notification modification extension subfield indicating the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification modification type, one or more beamforming parameters relating to a sounding sequence associated with the null data packet, a sounding mode for transmitting the null data packet, or a combination thereof.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sounding mode includes a non-trigger-based sounding mode, a trigger-based sounding mode, an uplink sounding mode, a joint sounding mode, or a multi-AP sounding mode.

5. In order to receive the null data packet notification frame, the instruction instructs the device to The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the null data packet notification frame to receive the last bit of the station information field indicating the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification variant type of the null data packet notification frame.

6. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 1, further operable by the at least one processor to cause it to transmit a compressed beamforming frame, at least in part on receiving the null data packet, wherein the compressed beamforming frame shows compressed beamforming information associated with the null data packet, a channel quality indicator associated with the null data packet, or both.

7. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 6, further operable by the at least one processor to cause a beamforming report pole trigger frame to be received in accordance with a trigger-based sounding mode, wherein transmitting the compressed beamforming frame is at least partially based on receiving the beamforming report pole trigger frame.

8. A device for wireless communication in a first communication device, At least one processor, At least one memory connected to the at least one processor, The memory is stored in at least one of the aforementioned memory, and the device is configured to A trigger frame is received that indicates a null data packet notification, a sounding mode for transmitting the null data packet associated with the null data packet notification, and a set of parameters for transmitting the compressed beamforming frame associated with the null data packet. In accordance with the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame, the null data packet associated with the null data packet notification is to be received or transmitted. An apparatus comprising: instructions executable by at least one processor to cause the compressed beamforming frame associated with the null data packet to transmit or receive according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

9. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the trigger frame to receive a four-bit trigger type field indicating the null data packet notification.

10. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is capable of causing via the trigger frame to receive a common information field indicating one or more parameters associated with the null data packet announcement, the one or more parameters comprising a variation type of the null data packet announcement, the sounding mode for transmitting the null data packet, one or more beamforming parameters relating to the sounding sequence associated with the null data packet, or a combination thereof.

11. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is capable of causing the trigger frame to receive a common information field indicating one or more trigger-based sounding parameters associated with the null data packet announcement, the one or more trigger-based sounding parameters comprising uplink length, uplink bandwidth, guard interval and long training field type, access point transmit power, or a combination thereof.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more trigger-based sounding parameters are omitted from the trigger frame when a non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for transmitting the null data packet.

13. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the trigger frame to receive a user information list field having one or more user information subfields that are effective for trigger-based sounding.

14. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the trigger frame to receive a user information list field having a trigger-dependent user information subfield indicating user-specific sounding parameters to be used for receiving the null data packet.

15. The non-trigger-based sounding mode is used for transmitting the null data packets. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trigger frame comprises a common information field containing content from a user information field or one or more station information subfields.

16. In order to transmit or receive the compressed beamforming frame, the instruction instructs the device to: The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is capable of causing the compressed beamforming frame to be transmitted using one or more transmission parameters selected by the first communication device.

17. In order to receive the trigger frame, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one processor is capable of causing the trigger frame to receive an uplink length field indicating the uplink physical layer protocol data unit duration of the null data packet.

18. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 8, further executable by the at least one processor to cause an ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit to be received, wherein the SIG-A field of the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit includes a bit indicating whether or not the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit can be used for sounding.

19. In order to receive the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit, the instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is capable of causing the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit to receive, via the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit, one or both of the SIG-A field or SIG-B field having one or both of a basic service set color subfield or an uplink flag subfield indicating one or more communication devices to which the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit is applicable.

20. The ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit includes the trigger frame indicating the null data packet notification, The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the trigger frame comprises a copy of the ultra-high reliability physical layer protocol data unit.

21. A device for wireless communication in a second communication device, At least one processor, At least one memory connected to the at least one processor, The memory is stored in at least one of the aforementioned memory, and the device is configured to A null data packet notification frame associated with a highly reliable null data packet notification variant type, comprising sounding information for a communication device supporting highly reliable communication, to cause the transmission of a null data packet notification frame, Based at least in part on the ability of the second communication device to support ultra-high reliability communication, the device causes the device to transmit a null data packet according to the sounding information from the null data packet notification frame associated with the ultra-high reliability null data packet notification variant type. An apparatus comprising: instructions executable by at least one processor to cause the second communication device to perform ultra-high reliability communication with the first communication device in accordance with the second communication device's ability to support ultra-high reliability communication, using one or more communication parameters based at least in part on measurements of the null data packet.

22. A device for wireless communication in a second communication device, At least one processor, At least one memory connected to the at least one processor, The memory is stored in at least one of the aforementioned memory, and the device is configured to A trigger frame is sent that indicates a null data packet notification, a sounding mode for transmitting the null data packet associated with the null data packet notification, and a set of parameters for transmitting the compressed beamforming frame associated with the null data packet. In accordance with the sounding mode indicated by the trigger frame, the null data packet associated with the null data packet notification is transmitted or received. An apparatus comprising: instructions executable by at least one processor to cause the compressed beamforming frame associated with the null data packet to receive or transmit according to the set of parameters indicated by the trigger frame.

23. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 22, further executable by the at least one processor to cause one or more stations to receive their respective ultra-high reliability null data packets in accordance with the null data packet announcement indicated by the trigger frame, wherein each of the ultra-high reliability null data packets includes a compressed beamforming frame associated with the trigger frame, a buffer status report associated with the one or more stations, or both.

24. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 23, further executable by the at least one processor to cause a second trigger frame indicating transmission parameters for each of the one or more stations, wherein the transmission parameters are at least partially based on the buffer status report in each of the ultra-high reliability null data packets from the one or more stations, a channel status estimate derived from each of the ultra-high reliability null data packets, or both.

25. The second trigger frame is aggregated with pending data from the second communication device. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the second trigger frame is used to request pending data from the one or more stations.

26. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 22, further operable by the at least one processor to cause one or more access points to receive their respective ultra-high reliability null data packets in accordance with the null data packet notification indicated by the trigger frame.

27. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 26, further operable by the at least one processor to cause at least a first access point among the one or more access points to transmit uplink data, based at least in part on the measurement values ​​of each of the ultra-high reliability null data packets.

28. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, A second trigger frame is caused to be transmitted to at least one of the one or more access points, based at least in part on the determination that the first access point has pending downlink data. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising the at least one processor capable of causing the first access point to receive some or all of the pending downlink data in accordance with the second trigger frame.

29. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of causing the second communication device to receive a beacon frame from the first access point while the second communication device is in power saving mode, and the traffic indicator map element of the beacon frame indicates the pending downlink data of the first access point.

30. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, Based at least partially on the compressed beamforming frame, one or more transmission parameters are selected. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising the at least one processor capable of causing a first wireless communication device to transmit downlink data using the one or more transmission parameters.

Images