Listen-before-talk detection areas for different modulation and coding schemes

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A first station (STA) is described. The first STA includes processing circuitry configured to determine a first transmission power setting for a first portion of a packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet. The first portion being associated with a first service area. The second portion is associated with a second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The packet is transmitted using the first transmission power setting and the second transmission power setting. A first probability of a second STA located in the first service area to decode the first portion of the packet to is higher than a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet.

Description

[0001] LISTEN-BEFORE-TALK DETECTION AREAS FOR DIFFERENT

[0002] MODULATION AND CODING SCHEMES

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to management of signaling and signaling parameters used to communicate using listen before talk (LBT) processes.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Wi-Fi, also known as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), is a technology that currently mainly operates in the 2.4 GHz, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band. There are specifications regulating an access points' or mobile terminals' physical (PHY) layer, medium access layer (MAC) layer and other aspects in order to secure compatibility and inter-operability between different WLAN entities, e.g., between an access point and mobile terminals, both of which may be referred to as stations (STAs) herein. Wi-Fi is generally operated in license-exempt bands, and as such, communication over Wi-Fi may be subject to interference sources from any number of known and unknown devices. Wi-Fi is commonly used as wireless extensions to fixed broadband access, e.g., in domestic environments and hotspots, like airports, train stations and restaurants.

[0007] Carrier sensing in IEEE 802.11

[0008] Carrier sensing may be used to verify the absence of other traffic before transmitting on a shared transmission medium. If a wireless system is operating in licenseexempt bands, such as the case for Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs) - commonly known as Wi-Fi networks, the wireless system typically uses a listen before talk (LBT) mechanism, also referred to as carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA), to gain access to the channel. The working procedure of LBT is as the name suggests. Before a transmission can be initiated, a transmitter listens on the wireless medium to determine whether a desired channel is occupied (“busy”) or unoccupied (“idle”) by using an appropriate carrier sensing mechanism. If the channel is found to be “idle,” the transmission can be initiated with a channel access mechanism that involves a random backoff procedure. On the contrary, if the channel is found to be “busy,” the transmitter defers from transmission and keeps sensing the channel until it becomes idle. The communication is challenging, especially in the presence of interference which may occur, for example, due to collisions when other transmitters (e.g., hidden nodes) gain access to the channel at the same time or when there are other systems (wideband or narrowband) operating in partially or completely overlapping channels.

[0009] The IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard supports two physical layer (PHY) carrier sensing mechanisms that can help IEEE 802.11 WLAN stations (STAs) to assess and identify the “idle” and “busy” portions of their operating channels. These mechanisms are termed carrier sense / clear channel assessment (CS / CCA) mechanisms.

[0010] CS / CCA using energy detection (ED) threshold

[0011] When using CS / CCA, a STA defers its transmissions over the channel while the energy the STA senses on the channel is at or above an ED threshold. An example typical value of ED threshold for a 20 MHz channel is -62 dBm. The ED threshold value is based on spectrum regulations and may differ for different frequency bands. The CS / CCA using ED threshold is technology-neutral and enables STAs to co-exist with both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi devices.

[0012] CS / CCA using packet detection (PD) threshold

[0013] This mechanism relies on signals specific to a technology and works exclusively within one technology or family of technologies. In Wi-Fi, if a STA detects the start of a signal with a valid IEEE 802.11 preamble (specifically the legacy preamble portion comprising legacy short training field (L-STF), legacy long training field (L-LTF), and the legacy signal field (L-SIG)) at, or above, the PD threshold in a particular channel, the STA decodes the preamble and defers the STA transmissions over that channel for a duration corresponding to the frame length value that is indicated in the preamble. For example, a typical value of PD threshold for a 20 MHz channel is -82 dBm. Since the IEEE 802.11 preamble is only used for Wi-Fi signals, the CS / CCA using PD threshold limits STAs to co-exist with Wi-Fi devices and mainly targets spectrum sharing among neighboring WiFi networks.

[0014] The IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard also supports a virtual carrier sensing mechanism using network allocation vector (NAV). This is a medium access control (MAC) layer mechanism. The MAC layer mechanism relies on information carried in the Duration field of the MAC headers of successfully decoded IEEE 802.11 frames that are detected at or above the receiver sensitivity level. The minimum receiver sensitivity level as mandated by the IEEE 802.11 standard is -82 dBm for a 20 MHz channel [1], The Duration field carries information about impending use of the medium, and the STAs must defer from transmitting until end of the read duration. The NAV is an indicator, maintained by each STA, of time periods when transmission onto the wireless medium should not be initiated by the STA regardless of whether the STA’s CS / CCA mechanism assesses the medium to be “busy” or “idle”. Similar to the CS / CCA mechanism using PD threshold, this virtual NAV mechanism is limited to be effective only within a specific technology - in this case, Wi-Fi.

[0015] The PD based CS / CCA and the NAV based carrier sensing mechanisms rely on successfully detecting the start of IEEE 802.11 packets and at least partially decoding IEEE 802.11 packets. There can be numerous reasons why a STA that is expected to defer its transmissions may fail to perform carrier sensing using the PD based CS / CCA or NAV based mechanisms. For example, the STA may fail to detect the start of a packet. Further, the STA may fail to decode the preamble or the MAC header of a packet, or the STA may not be awake when a packet is being transmitted or be busy with its own ongoing transmission or reception.

[0016] In conventional systems, only the CS / CCA using ED threshold provides means to protect Wi-Fi transmissions from non-Wi-Fi interferers.

[0017] Medium reservation and protection using NAV distribution mechanisms in IEEE 802.11

[0018] The IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard includes support for two NAV distribution mechanisms that can help a STA to reserve the medium for its use and avoid colliding transmissions that may cause interference during that STA’s use of the medium.

[0019] RTS / CTS mechanism

[0020] This mechanism involving request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) control frames can be used by a transmitter STA immediately prior to transmitting a data packet or a burst of data packets to one or more receiver STAs, for example, for:

[0021] • ensuring that the receiver STA(s) is (are) awake and ready for reception; and

[0022] • reserving and protecting the transmit opportunity (TXOP) and preventing hidden node related interference (both for the data packet as well as a corresponding acknowledgement frame) by setting the NAVs at all neighboring STAs belonging to the same basic service set (BSS) as well as overlapping BSSs (OBSSs).

[0023] FIG. 1 shows example communication using RTS / CTS frame exchange and the corresponding NAV distribution. The NAV is indicated for STAs that may receive the RTS frame, while other STAs may receive only the CTS frame, resulting in the lower NAV bar as shown (with the exception of the STA to which the RTS frame was addressed).

[0024] CTS-to-self mechanism

[0025] In the CTS-to-self mechanism, when a STA needs to reserve the medium for a transmission of a data packet, the STA may first transmit a CTS frame with the receiver address (RA) field equal to its own MAC address - this frame is termed as a CTS-to-self frame. Similar to the RTS / CTS mechanism, the duration value in the CTS-to-self frame protects the pending transmission, plus possibly an acknowledgement frame.

[0026] Both RTS / CTS and CTS-to-self mechanisms are optional and are not used for all data packet transmissions. Because the additional RTS / CTS / CTS-to-self frames add overhead inefficiency, these mechanisms are not always justified, especially for short data packets. For instance, the RTS / CTS mechanism may only be used if the length of the PSDU to be communicated exceeds a threshold value indicated by dotl IRTSThreshold. Compared to the RTS / CTS mechanism, the CTS-to-self mechanism is lower in network overhead cost but is less robust against hidden nodes and collisions.

[0027] Moreover, due to similar challenges as associated with the PD based CS / CCA and the NAV based carrier sensing mechanisms, it is not always guaranteed that usage of the RTS / CTS or CTS-to-self mechanisms would ensure collision free communications. This is because the intended receivers of RTS / CTS / CTS-to-self frames may not be awake when these frames are being transmitted, or may fail in detecting and / or decoding these frames, or may be busy with their own communications (transmissions / receptions) when these frames are being transmitted.

[0028] BSS coloring and OBSS PD-based spatial reuse in IEEE 802.1 lax

[0029] The IEEE 802.1 lax amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard describes the BSS coloring mechanism. With BSS coloring in use, an IEEE 802.1 lax client can rapidly determine the difference between inter- and intra-BSS packets by inspecting the BSS Color sub-field contained in the PHY header of all IEEE 802.1 lax compliant packets. The BSS color identifies a BSS and assists a STA receiving a packet that carries BSS color in identifying the BSS from which the packet originated so that the STA can perform different actions, e.g., use different channel access rules by applying different PD thresholds for intra-BSS and inter-BSS packets.

[0030] The OBSS PD-based spatial reuse mechanism may allow a STA to use a relatively relaxed PD threshold for inter-BSS packets compared to packets from its own BSS, thereby allowing for more aggressive channel access, albeit with transmit (TX) power restrictions, and greater spatial reuse opportunities. As a result, if OBSS packets are detected by a STA below the relaxed PD threshold, the packets may be ignored, and the STA can undertake its own pending transmission without deferring.

[0031] Preamble power boost in HE ER SU PPDUs

[0032] The IEEE 802.1 lax amendment describes a High Efficiency (HE) Extended Range (ER) Single User (SU) Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format that can be used to transmit packets to STAs suffering from large path losses, i.e., those suffering from poor coverage. To achieve enhanced coverage, the data field of a HE ER SU PPDU is more powerfully (robustly) encoded using repetition / duplication techniques such as dual carrier modulation (DCM), that may allow for decoding of the data fields in poor signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. However, in order to be able to decode the data fields, parameters such as time and frequency must be properly estimated and the channel estimation must also be sufficiently accurate. Because the preamble is used by other legacy devices, it cannot be changed in a corresponding way as the data field. Instead, to ensure that also the preamble achieves a similarly enhanced coverage as the data field in an HE ER SU PPDU, the TX power of the preamble fields is boosted by 3 dB to improve the probability of successfully detecting the packet and decoding the preamble. As its name indicates, the intended usage of HE ER SU PPDU is for range extension, and it is only specified for low data-rate packets.

[0033] TX power backoff in practical device implementations

[0034] According to IEEE 802.1 lax amendment, modulations from BPSK all the way up to 1024-QAM are supported for the data fields. Correspondingly, supported modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) range from MCS0 to MCS11, wherein the lower index indicates the most robust MCS that provides the lowest data-rate (binary phase shift keyed (BPSK) modulation, code rate 1 / 2) and the highest index indicates the least robust MCS that provides the highest data-rate (1024-QAM modulation, code rate 5 / 6). The next generation major IEEE 802.11 amendment, namely the IEEE 802.1 Ibe amendment, is currently being developed and supports even higher modulation orders and data-rates than the IEEE 802.1 lax amendment, e.g., 4096-QAM modulation is supported. The minimum required SNR or signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) to successfully decode a signal with high probability increases as the modulation order is increased, and correspondingly higher minimum SNRs / SINRs are required to decode higher data-rate MCSs. Also, the TX signal quality requirements (e.g., in terms of constellation error, error vector magnitude (EVM), modulation accuracy of the transmit signal) are tougher for higher data-rate MCSs than for lower data-rate MCS.

[0035] Practical device implementations typically feature power amplifiers (PAs) with non-linear characteristics - as the TX power is increased, the non-linear leakage and distortion components in the transmitted signal increase as well as the quality of the transmitted signal deteriorates. To counter this behavior and fulfil the TX signal quality requirements while transmitting signals with different MCSs, devices either back off their TX power for higher data-rate MCSs to obtain a relatively more linear response from the PAs, and / or use some linearization techniques such as digital pre-distortion (DPD), and / or use crest factor reduction (CFR) techniques to reduce the peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR).

[0036] STAs such as Wi-Fi STAs may include access points (APs) and non-APs. An AP may refer to an entity that is configured to provide access to a network (e.g., to distribution system services, enable or create a wireless local area network that can be used by other STAs such as non-APs), while a non-AP may refer to a STA that is different from an AP, i.e., not configured to provide access to a network, configured to communicate with an AP to access a network or communicate with other non-AP STAs, etc. The latest generation Wi-Fi devices, for example Wi-Fi 6 APs, are known to back off their TX powers quite significantly for higher data-rate MCSs. Even for high-end costly Wi-Fi 6 compliant APs, the difference in the maximum supported TX power between MCSO and MCS11 can be as high as, for example, 7 dB, 8 dB, etc.). Wi-Fi radio implementations in non-AP STAs are smaller, less complex, and cheaper than those in APs and thus non-AP STAs can be expected to back off their TX powers even more. Moreover, future Wi-Fi devices will support even higher data-rate MCSs (e.g., next-generation IEEE 802.1 Ibe supports up to 4096-QAM modulation) than today’s latest IEEE 802.1 lax compliant Wi-Fi devices and can be expected to back off their TX powers even more.

[0037] It can be noted that backing off the TX power maintains the relationship between the preamble fields used for, e.g., synchronization and channel estimation, and the data fields, so that the preamble fields in this way will be sufficiently good, but not unnecessarily good for the data fields to be correctly received.

[0038] Receiver gain setting using automatic gain control (AGO in practical Wi-Fi device implementations

[0039] In practical Wi-Fi device implementations, AGC is typically employed to set / tune the receiver gain so that a signal being received will be within the limited dynamic range of the analog as well as digital front-ends of the radio receiver, thereby allowing for the possibility of decoding of the signal as needed in the later digital baseband stage. Correspondingly, the standardized Wi-Fi PPDU formats across different IEEE 802.11 generations have included at least one suitable field in the preamble intended for receiver gain setting using AGC. Some examples are illustrated in FIG. 2 using blocks with thick dotted lines. As can be observed, the L-STF field is present in PPDUs of all shown Wi-Fi generations and is the first field of a PPDU that is used for receiver gain setting, along with its other uses. As the name indicates, the L-STF field has been present since the very early Wi-Fi generations. In the relatively newer Wi-Fi generations that have support for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications, fields such as the HT-STF (defined in IEEE 802.1 In, see Section 19.3.9.4.5 HT-STF), VHT-STF (defined in IEEE 802.11ac, see Section 21.3.8.3.4 VHT-STF definition), HE-STF (defined in IEEE 802.1 lax, see Section 27.3.11.9 HE-STF field), and EHT-STF (defined in IEEE P802.1 Ibe, see Section 36.3.12.9 EHT-STF) have been introduced among other things improve AGC performance while receiving a MIMO transmission. These generationspecific STF fields provide the receivers of PPDUs with an additional opportunity after the L-STF to tune the AGC. This additional AGC tuning specifically helps for receiving the subsequent parts of the PPDUs (that arrive after the generation-specific STF field) that may arrive with a different receive (RX) power than the preceding parts. For example, when a PPDU transmitter uses beamforming for the subsequent parts, these parts may arrive at the intended receiver(s) with a higher RX power than the preceding parts due to the underlying TX beamforming gain. Many conventional Wi-Fi devices, especially those involved in MIMO communications, may have the ability to tune their receiver gain at least twice while receiving a PPDU - first while receiving the L-STF at the start of the PPDU, and then while receiving the subsequent generation-specific STF.

[0040] The preamble portion of an IEEE 802.11 packet is useful for multiple critical actions, e.g., detecting the packet, performing frequency offset estimation, channel estimation, determining necessary information (e.g., MCS used) for decoding the data field, etc. The different preamble fields are therefore specified such that they can be robustly detected and decoded. For example, the L-SIG and generation-specific SIG fields are typically modulated using the most robust and low data-rate MCSs. For intended receiver(s) of a data packet, especially from AGC tuning perspective, it is most straightforward to have a similar RX power for the preamble as for the subsequent data portion the packet. However, this ends up being a cause for concern from a general packet detection perspective when also considering non-intended receiver(s) of the data, e.g., since devices in the vicinity are expected to consistently detect and decode the preamble and defer their own transmissions in order to not cause interference to the reception of the packet or a corresponding acknowledgement frame.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows an example of different LBT detection areas for different MCSs in downlink. As discussed in the “TX power backoff in practical device implementations” section, the maximum TX power that can be used by the AP is typically lower for higher data-rate MCSs. Thus, if the AP transmits downlink packets with different MCSs over time (e.g., due to varying channel conditions) and using corresponding maximum possible TX powers to the same STA(s), e.g., STA1 or STA2, the other STAs in the vicinity, e.g., STA3 and STA4. may or may not be able to detect all the packets (due to correspondingly varying preamble powers). As a result, these STAs may not defer their own transmissions and could cause interference to the data packet or a corresponding acknowledgement frame. Note that STA3 and STA4 need not belong to the same BSS that is managed by the AP. This inconsistency in the LBT detection area is not desirable and can cause deterioration in overall performance due to increased collisions especially when transmitting higher data-rate (higher MCS) packets that require significantly backed off TX power. The resulting interference situation can become worse if techniques such as OBSS PD-based spatial reuse discussed in the “BSS coloring and OBSS PD-based spatial reuse in IEEE 802.1 lax” section are used.

[0042] Also, for the higher data-rate (higher MCS) packets, better receiver conditions may be required, i.e., higher SINR. That is, the area around the intended receiver(s) where no other transmission should occur and cause interference to the receiver(s) should be larger compared to the lower data-rate (lower MCS) packets. Thus, for packets comprising data encoded with higher data-rate MCSs, one would desire LBT to be effective over a larger area, but if the TX power of the preamble for a higher data-rate packet (due to requiring TX power backoff) is reduced, the opposite is achieved.

[0043] As discussed in the "Medium reservation and protection using NAV distribution mechanisms in IEEE 802.11” section, the NAV distribution mechanisms prior to data packet transmissions may not always be used or may not always succeed when used. Also, as discussed in the “Carrier sensing in IEEE 802.11” section, the effectiveness of the PD based CS / CCA and the NAV based carrier sensing mechanisms depends on successfully detecting the start of and at least partially decoding IEEE 802.11 packets. Thus, if the LBT detection area is not consistent for different transmissions featuring varying MCSs, then the effectiveness of these different mechanisms as well as the overall performance of the system may become less predictable and lead to non-optimal overall system performance.

[0044] Further, when considering non-Wi-Fi interferers that only use ED based CS / CCA mechanism, using a lower power for the whole packet duration (e.g., when higher data- rate MCS are selected) even for fields that are encoded with lower data-rate MCS (which can be transmitted with higher power (e.g., preamble fields)) may result in that non-Wi-Fi interference becomes more problematic, as the detected energy in the channel is reduced.

[0045] SUMMARY

[0046] Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for management of signaling (and / signaling parameters) transmitted and / or received in listen- before-talk detection areas such as for different modulation and coding schemes.

[0047] One or more embodiments describe transmitting packets with different TX powers applied to the preamble and data fields, e.g., when the MCSs used for the data field correspond to higher data-rates than the data-rate of the preamble encoding. In some embodiments, the preamble is transmitted with using power higher than the power used to transmit the data field. For example, the preamble may be transmitted using higher power so that the preamble can be successfully decoded in a wider communication area (e.g., than the data field).

[0048] In some other embodiments, preambles, which are designed for robust detection and decoding, may be used and allow for higher maximum possible TX powers than the subsequent data fields. In some embodiments, a consistent LBT detection area for a device’s (e.g., STA’s) transmissions with varying MCSs is described. One or more embodiments provide a detection area that may either be independent of the MCSs used for the data fields or may be larger for such MCSs that require a higher SINR to be correctly decoded. In some embodiments, the STA may undertake signaling to help with determining the power level difference between the preamble and the data fields, e.g., to ensure that the AGC gain setting / tuning works according to one or more rules at the intended receiver(s) of the data packets (i.e., receiver STA).

[0049] According to one aspect, a method for wirelessly communicating a packet is described. The packet comprises at least a first portion and a second portion. Upon detecting and decoding the first portion at or above a certain power-level threshold, devices in the vicinity are required to defer their transmissions for a certain duration in order to not cause interference to the reception of the packet. The first portion is transmitted with a higher TX power than the second portion, e.g., so that the first portion can be successfully decoded with high probability in a wider communication area than the second portion.

[0050] In some embodiments, the TX power setting of the first portion is independent of the MCS used for encoding the second portion.

[0051] In some other embodiments, the TX power setting of the first portion is increased when the TX power setting for the second portion is decreased (e.g., due to usage of a higher data-rate MCS).

[0052] In some embodiments, the communicating devices undertake signaling to help with determining the power level difference between the first portion and second portion.

[0053] In some other embodiments, at least some of the signaling occurs during the transmission of the packet itself and corresponding information is included in the first portion.

[0054] In some embodiments, at least some of the signaling occurs before the transmission of the packet, e.g., during association or using a control frame or a management frame or a prior data packet.

[0055] In some other embodiments, the change of TX power setting between the first portion and the second portion is made at a time where other TX settings for a specific intended receiver are also potentially changed, where other TX settings may include TX bandwidth or TX beamforming settings.

[0056] In some embodiments, the length (and thus duration) of the first portion is extended by a suitable amount to provide some extra time to the intended receiver(s) of the second portion to prepare for receiving the second portion at a different power level than the first portion.

[0057] In some other embodiments, the minimum SNR required to decode the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0058] In some embodiments, while ensuring that corresponding TX signal quality requirements are fulfilled, the maximum TX power that can be used by a device for transmitting the second portion is lower than the maximum TX power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

[0059] In some other embodiments, the wireless communications are based on a Wireless Local Area Network technology according to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion. In some other embodiments, the preamble portion contains at least the legacy preamble, which comprises L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG.

[0061] In some embodiments, the change of TX power setting is performed at a time that coincides with the start of the generation-specific STF field (e.g., HT STF, VHT STF, HE STF, EHT STF) of the preamble.

[0062] According to another aspect, a device (e.g., transmitting STA) is configured to transmit the packet as described herein.

[0063] According to one aspect, a device (e.g., receiving STA, non-intended receiving STA) is configured to receiving the packet as described herein.

[0064] One or more embodiments are beneficial at least because a wireless transmitter may enable a consistent or suitable LBT detection area for different packet transmissions with varying MCSs. In IEEE 802.11 WLANs, a transmitter of a PPDU can ensure that the LBT detection area is independent of or better matched to the MCS used for encoding the data field. Further, one or more embodiments address the LBT challenges arising due to a key practical TX power limitation of different device implementations, i.e., that involves backing off TX power for higher data-rate MCSs.

[0065] According to one aspect, a first station (STA) configured to communicate with one or more other STAs using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The first STA includes processing circuitry configured to determine a first transmission power setting for the first portion of the packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet. The first portion is associated with a first service area, and the second portion is associated with a second service area. The first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. Further, the packet is transmitted by the first STA to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion. The transmission of the packet causes a first probability of a second STA of the one or more other STAs located in the first service area to decode the first portion of the packet to be higher than a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0067] In some other embodiments, one or more of the processing circuitry is further configured to cause transmission of signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during an association process involving the first STA; and the at least signaling portion is transmitted using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0068] In some embodiments, the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0069] In some other embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to extend a length of the first portion based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion. The extension of the length allows the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0070] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0071] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power that can be used by the first STA for transmitting the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

[0072] In some embodiments, the first STA is configured to communicate with the one or more other STAs based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0073] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0074] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point (AP) STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0075] According to another aspect, a method in a first station (STA) configured to communicate with one or more other STAs using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The method includes determining a first transmission power setting for the first portion of the packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet. The first portion is associated with a first service area, and the second portion is associated with a second service area. The first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The packet is transmitted to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion. The transmission of the packet causes a first probability of a second STA of the one or more other STAs located in the first service area to decode the first portion of the packet to be higher than a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet.

[0076] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0077] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes transmitting signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during an association process involving the first STA; and the at least signaling portion is transmitted using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0078] In some embodiments, the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0079] In some other embodiments, the method further includes extending a length of the first portion based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion. The extension of the length allows the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0080] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0081] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power that can be used by the first STA for transmitting the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first STA is configured to communicate with the one or more other STAs based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0083] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0084] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point (AP) STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process. According to an aspect, a second station (STA) configured to communicate with a first STA using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The second station is located in a first service area. The second STA includes processing circuitry configured to receive the packet from the first STA transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with the first service area. The second portion is associated with a second service area, where the first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The packet is decoded. The decoding includes decoding the first portion and has a first probability of the second STA to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet, where the first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0086] In some other embodiments, one or more of the processing circuitry is further configured to receive signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0087] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the second STA using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting. In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0088] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0089] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0090] In some embodiments, the second STA is configured to communicate with the first STA based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0091] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0092] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point (AP) STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0093] According to another aspect, a method in a second station (STA) configured to communicate with a first STA using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The second station is located in a first service area. The method includes receiving the packet from the first STA transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with the first service area. The second portion is associated with a second service area, where the first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The packet is decoded. The decoding of the packet includes decoding the first portion and has a first probability of the second STA to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet. The first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0095] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0096] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the second STA using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0097] In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion, where the extension of the length allows the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0098] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0099] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0100] In some embodiments, the second STAis configured to communicate with the first STA based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0101] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0102] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point (AP) STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0103] According to one aspect, a third station (STA) configured to communicate with a first STA using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The third station is located in a second service area. The third STA includes processing circuitry configured to receive the packet from the first STA transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion. The first portion is associated with a first service area, and the second portion is associated with the second service area. The first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The processing circuitry is further configured to adjust a one or both of a receiver setting and a parameter associated at least with the second portion of the packet and decode the packet. The decoding of the packet includes decoding the first and second portions and has a first probability of the third STA to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the third STA to decode the second portion of the packet. The first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0105] In some other embodiments, one or more of the processing circuitry is further configured to receive signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA; and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0106] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the third STA using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0107] In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0108] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0109] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0110] In some embodiments, the third STA is configured to communicate with the first STA based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0111] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0112] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point, AP, STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0113] According to another aspect, a method in a third station (STA) configured to communicate with a first STA using at least a packet is described. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion, the third station being located in a second service area. The method includes receiving the packet from the first STA transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion. The first portion is associated with a first service area, and the second portion is associated with the second service area, where the first service area is larger than the second service area. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The method further includes adjusting a one or both of a receiver setting and a parameter associated at least with the second portion of the packet and decoding the packet. The decoding of the packet includes decoding the first and second portions and has a first probability of the third STA to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the third STA to decode the second portion of the packet. The first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0115] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA; and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0116] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the third STA using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA of the one or more other STAs change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0117] In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA expected to receive the second portion. The extension of the length allows the at least one STA expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0118] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0119] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0120] In some embodiments, the third STA is configured to communicate with the first STA based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0121] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0122] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA is an access point (AP) STA or a non-AP STA; the one or more other STAs are one or more of AP STAs and non-AP STAs; and the first STA and the one or more other STAs are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0123] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0124] FIG. 1 shows example communication using RTS / CTS frame exchange and the corresponding NAV distribution;

[0125] FIG. 2 shows example preamble fields in PPDU formats of different Wi-Fi generations usable for receiver gain setting using AGC;

[0126] FIG. 3 shows an example of different LBT detection areas for different MCSs in downlink;

[0127] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system according to the principles in the present disclosure;

[0128] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an AP communicating with a non-AP STA over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0129] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

[0130] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via an access point with a non-AP STA over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0131] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, an access point and a non-AP STA for executing a client application at a non-AP STA according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0132] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, an access point and a non-AP STA for receiving user data at a non-AP STA according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0133] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, an access point and a non-AP STA for receiving user data from the non-AP STA at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, an access point and a non-AP STA for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0134] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in an AP STA according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0135] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example process in a non-AP STA according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0136] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example process in another non-AP STA according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0137] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0138] Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to management of signaling (and / or signaling parameters) transmitted and / or received in listen-before-talk detection areas such as for different modulation and coding schemes. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0139] As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and / or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

[0140] In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[0141] In some embodiments, the term “access point” or “AP” is used interchangeably and may comprise, or be, a network node. The AP may include any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), relay node, integrated access and backhaul (IAB), donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The AP may also comprise test equipment. The AP may comprise a radio router, a radio transceiver, WiFi access point, wireless local area network (WLAN) access point, a network controller, etc.

[0142] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term “device” is used to describe a wireless device (WD) and / or user equipment (UE) that may be used to implement some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the device may be and / or comprise an access point (AP) station (STA). In some embodiments, the device may be and / or comprise a non-access point station (non-AP STA). In some embodiments, the device may be any type of device capable of communicating with a network node, such as an AP, over radio signals. The device may be any radio communication device, target device, a portable device, device-to-device (D2D) device, machine type device or device capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and / or low-complexity device, a sensor equipped with a device, a computer, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, or a Narrowband loT (NB-IOT) device, Reduced Capability (RedCap) device, etc.

[0143] A device may be considered a network node and may include physical components, such as processors, allocated processing elements, or other computing hardware, computer memory, communication interfaces, and other supporting computing hardware. The network node may use dedicated physical components, or the node may be allocated use of the physical components of another device, such as a computing device or resources of a datacenter, in which case the network node is said to be virtualized. A network node may be associated with multiple physical components that may be located either in one location, or may be distributed across multiple locations.

[0144] Even though the descriptions herein may be explained in the context of one of a Downlink (DL) and an Uplink (UL) communication, it should be understood that the basic principles disclosed may also be applicable to the other of the one of the DL and the UL communication. In some embodiments in this disclosure, the principles may be considered applicable to, e.g., a first STA and, e.g., a second STA. For DL communication, the first STA may be the transmitter, and the second STA may be the receiver. For UL communication, the transmitter may be the second STA, and the receiver may be the first STA. In some embodiments, the first STA may be an AP or non-AP STA, and the second STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0145] Note also that some embodiments of the present disclosure may be supported by an IEEE 802.11 standard. IEEE 802.11 denotes a set of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) air interface standards developed by the IEEE 802.11 committee for short-range communications (e.g., tens of meters to a few hundred meters). Some embodiments may also be supported by standard documents disclosed in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications. That is, some embodiments of the description can be supported by the above documents (e.g., standard documents). In addition, all the terms disclosed in the present document may be described by the above standard documents.

[0146] Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, IEEE 802.11, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5th Generation (5G) and / or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

[0147] Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by one or more of a first STA, second STA, transmitting STA, receiving STA, AP, non-AP STA, wireless device, network node, etc., may be distributed over a plurality of STAs, APs, non-AP STAs, wireless devices, network nodes, etc. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the devices described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices.

[0148] In some embodiments, the term “transmission signal quality condition” is used and may refer to transmit (TX) signal quality requirements, such as in terms of EVM of the transmitted signal. A maximum TX power may be limited by the transmit signal quality requirements.

[0149] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0150] Referring again to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 4 a schematic diagram of the communication system 10, according to one embodiment, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The communication system 10 in FIG. 4 is a nonlimiting example and other embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more other systems and / or networks. Referring to FIG. 4, system 10 may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN). The devices in the system 10 may communicate over one or more spectrums, such as, for example, an unlicensed spectrum, which may include frequency bands typically used by Wi-Fi technology. One or more of the devices may be further configured to communicate over other frequency bands, such as shared licensed frequency bands, etc. The system 10 may include one or more service areas 12a, 12b, etc. (collectively referred to herein as “service area 12”), which may be defined by corresponding access points (APs) 14a, 14b, etc. (collectively referred to herein as “AP STA 14”). A service area 12 may also correspond to and / or be associated with a coverage area, a cell, and / or a basic service set (BSS). The AP STAs 14 may or may not be connectable to another network, such as a core network over a wired or wireless connection. The system 10 includes a plurality of non-AP devices, such as, for example, non-AP STAs 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as non-AP STAs 16). Each of the non-AP STAs 16 may be located in one or more service areas 12 and may be configured to wirelessly connect to one or more AP STA 14. Note that although two AP STAs 14a and 14b and two non-AP STAs 16a and 16b are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more non-AP STAs 16 and AP STAs 14. Each AP STA 14 may connect to / serve / configure / schedule / etc. one or more non-AP STAs 16.

[0151] It should be understood that the system 10 may include additional nodes and / or devices not shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the system 10 may include many more connections and / or interfaces than those shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the elements shown in FIG. 4 are presented for ease of understanding.

[0152] Also, it is contemplated that a non-AP STA 16 can be in communication and / or configured to separately communicate with more than one AP STA 14 and / or more than one type of AP STA 14. Furthermore, an AP STA 14 may be in communication and / or configured to separately communicate with other AP STAs 14, as described herein, which may be via wired and / or wireless communication channels.

[0153] A non-AP STA 16 is configured to include a non-AP STA Management Unit 17, which is configured to perform one or more non-AP STA 16 functions described herein. An AP STA 14 is configured to include an AP STA Management Unit 18, which is configured to perform one or more AP STA 14 functions described herein.

[0154] Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the AP STA 14 and non-AP STA 16 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0155] An AP STA 14 or a non-AP STA 16 may be generally referred to as a STA 19. For example, a first STA 19a may be an AP STA 14, and a second STA 19b may be a non-AP STA 16. System 10 may include one or more additional STAs 19n (which include AP STAs 14 and / or non-AP STAs 16), which may be in communication with STA 19a and / or STA 19b.

[0156] The AP STA 14 includes hardware 20 including a communication interface 22, processing circuitry 24, a processor 26, and memory 28. The communication interface 22 may be configured to communicate with any of the nodes / devices in the system 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, such as with one or more other AP STAs 14 and / or one or more non-AP STAs 16. In some embodiments, the communication interface 22 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more radio frequency (RF) transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers, and / or may be considered a radio interface. In some embodiments, the communication interface 22 may also include a wired interface.

[0157] The processing circuitry 24 may include one or more processors 26 and memory, e.g., memory 28. In addition to a processor 26 and memory 28, the processing circuitry 24 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 26 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 28, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0158] The AP STA 14 may further include software 30 stored internally in, for example, memory 28, or stored in external memory (e.g., database) accessible by the AP STA 14 via an external connection. The software 30 may be executable by the processing circuitry 24. The processing circuitry 24 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., AP STA 14. The memory 28 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 30 may include instructions stored in memory 28 that, when executed by the processor 26 and / or AP STA Management Unit 18 causes the processing circuitry 24 and / or configures the AP STA 14 to perform the processes described herein with respect to the AP STA 14.

[0159] Referring still to FIG. 5, the non-AP STA 16 includes hardware 32, which may include a communication interface 34, processing circuitry 36, a processor 38, and memory 40. The communication interface 34 may be configured to communicate with one or more AP STA 14 and / or other STA 19n, such as via wireless connection 35, and / or with other elements in the system 10, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the communication interface 34 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more radio frequency (RF) transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers, and / or may be considered a radio interface. In some embodiments, the communication interface 34 may also include a wired interface. In some embodiments, AP STA 14 may be configured to communicate with another AP STA 14, non-AP STA 16, and / or STA 19n via wireless connection 35 and / or via a wired connection (not shown).

[0160] The processing circuitry 36 may include one or more processors 38 and memory, such as, the memory 40. Furthermore, in addition to a traditional processor and memory, the processing circuitry 36 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 38 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 40, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0161] Thus, the non-AP STA 16 may further include software 42 stored internally in, for example, memory 40, or stored in external memory (e.g., database) accessible by the non- AP STA 16 via an external connection. The software 42 may be executable by the processing circuitry 36. The processing circuitry 36 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by the non-AP STA 16. The memory 40 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software may include instructions stored in memory 40 that, when executed by the processor 38 and / or non-AP STA Management Unit 17, causes the processing circuitry 36 and / or configures the non-AP STA 16 to perform the processes described herein with respect to the non-AP STA 16.

[0162] In FIG. 5, the connection between the STAs 19 (i.e., AP STA 14, the non-AP STA 16, and STA 19n) is shown without explicit reference to any intermediary devices or connections. However, it should be understood that intermediary devices and / or connections may exist between these devices, although not explicitly shown.

[0163] Although FIG. 5 shows non-AP STA Management Unit 17 and AP STA Management Unit 18, as being within a processor, it is contemplated that this element may be implemented such that a portion of the element is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the element may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 6, the access point STA 14 and non-AP STAs 16 may be similar to those of the example of FIG. 4, described herein. Additionally, in the example of FIG. 6, one or more AP STAs 14 and / or non-AP STAs 16 may form and / or be part of a service set network 44 (e.g., a basic service set, or any other network, set, and / or grouping of AP STAs 14 and non-AP STAs 16). The communication system 10 and / or service set network 44 may itself be connected to a host computer 46, which may be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud- implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 46 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 48, 50 between the communication system 10 and / or the service set network 44 and the host computer 46 may extend directly from the service set network 44 to the host computer 46 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 52. The intermediate network 52 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 52, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 52 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

[0164] The communication system of FIG. 6 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected non-AP STAs 16 and the host computer 46. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 46 and the connected non AP-STAs 16 are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection, using the service set network 44, any intermediate network 52 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, an AP STA 14 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 46 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected non-AP STA 16. Similarly, the AP STA 14 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the non-AP STA 16 towards the host computer 46.

[0165] Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the non-AP STA 16, AP STA 14, and host computer 46 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the example of FIG. 7, the AP STA 14 and the non- AP STA 16 may have similar features and components as the AP STA 14 and non-AP STA 16 depicted in FIG. 5. Additionally, the host computer 46 comprises hardware (HW) 53 including a communication interface 54 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 46 further comprises processing circuitry 56, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 56 may include a processor 58 and memory 60. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 56 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 58 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 60, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0166] Processing circuitry 56 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 46. Processor 58 corresponds to one or more processors 58 for performing host computer 46 functions described herein. The host computer 46 includes memory 60 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 62 and / or the host application 64 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 58 and / or processing circuitry 56, causes the processor 58 and / or processing circuitry 56 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 46. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 46.

[0167] The software 62 of host computer 46 may be executable by the processing circuitry 56. The software 62 includes a host application 64. The host application 64 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a non-AP STA 16 connecting via an OTT connection 66 terminating at the non-AP STA 16 and the host computer 46. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 64 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 66. The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 46 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 56 of the host computer 46 may enable the host computer 46 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and / or receive from the AP STA 14 and / or the non-AP STA 16. The processing circuitry 56 of the host computer 46 may include a host management unit 68 configured to enable the service provider to observe / monitor / control / transmit to / receive from / configure / etc. the AP STA 14 and / or the non-AP STA 16.

[0168] The communication interface 22 of AP STA 14 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 46. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a service set network 44 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 52 outside the communication system 10. The communication interface 34 of non-AP STA 16 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 46. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a service set network 44 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 52 outside the communication system 10.

[0169] The software 42 of non-AP STA 16 may include a client application 70. The client application 70 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the non-AP STA 16, with the support of the host computer 46. In the host computer 46, an executing host application 64 may communicate with the executing client application 70 via the OTT connection 66 terminating at the non-AP STA 16 and the host computer 46. In providing the service to the user, the client application 70 may receive request data from the host application 64 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 66 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 70 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

[0170] In some embodiments, the inner workings of the AP STA 14, non-AP STA 16, and host computer 46 may be as shown in FIG. 6 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 7.

[0171] In FIG. 7, the OTT connection 66 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 46 and the non-AP STA 16 via the AP STA 14, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the non-AP STA 16 or from the service provider operating the host computer 46, or both. While the OTT connection 66 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). The wireless connection 35 between the non-AP STA 16 and the AP STA 14 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the non-AP STA 16 using the OTT connection 66, in which the wireless connection 35 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and / or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc.

[0172] In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 66 between the host computer 46 and non-AP STA 16, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 66 may be implemented in the software 62 of the host computer 46 or in the software 42 of the non-AP STA 16, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 66 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 62, 42 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 66 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the AP STA 14, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the AP STA 14. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary wireless device signaling facilitating the host computer’s 46 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 62, 42 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 66 while it monitors propagation times, errors, etc.

[0173] Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 46 includes processing circuitry 56 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 54 that is configured to forward the user data to a wireless network and / or cellular network for transmission to the non-AP STA 16. In some embodiments, the wireless network and / or cellular network also includes the AP STA 14 with a communication interface 22. In some embodiments, the AP STA 14 is configured to, and / or the AP STA 14 processing circuitry 24 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending a transmission to the non-AP STA 16, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending in receipt of a transmission from the non-AP STA 16.

[0174] In some embodiments, the host computer 46 includes processing circuitry 56 and a communication interface 54 that is configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a non-AP STA 16 to an AP STA 14. In some embodiments, the non- AP STA 16 is configured to, and / or comprises a communication interface 34 and / or processing circuitry 36 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending a transmission to the AP STA 14, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending in receipt of a transmission from the AP STA 14.

[0175] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 4 and 5, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 46, an AP STA 14 and a non-AP STA 16, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 7. In a first step of the method, the host computer 46 provides user data (Block SI 00). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 46 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 64 (Block SI 02). In a second step, the host computer 46 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the non-AP STA 16 (Block S104). In an optional third step, the AP STA 14 transmits to the non-AP STA 16 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 46 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block SI 06). In an optional fourth step, the non-AP STA 16 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 70, associated with the host application 64 executed by the host computer 46 (Block SI 08).

[0176] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 7, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 46, an AP STA 14 and a non-AP STA 16, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In a first step of the method, the host computer 46 provides user data (Block SI 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 46 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 64. In a second step, the host computer 46 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the non-AP STA 16 (Block SI 12). The transmission may pass via the AP STA 14, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the non-AP STA 16 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block SI 14).

[0177] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 7, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 46, an AP STA 14 and a non-AP STA 16, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In an optional first step of the method, the non-AP STA 16 receives input data provided by the host computer 46 (Block SI 16). In an optional substep of the first step, the non-AP STA 16 executes the client application 70, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 46 (Block SI 18). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the non-AP STA 16 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the non-AP STA 16 provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 70 (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 70 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the non-AP STA 16 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 46 (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 46 receives the user data transmitted from the non-AP STA 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126).

[0178] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 46, an AP STA 14 and a non-AP STA 16, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the AP STA 14 receives user data from the non-AP STA 16 (Block S128). In an optional second step, the AP STA 14 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 46 (Block S130). In a third step, the host computer 46 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the AP STA 14 (Block S132).

[0179] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in a first STA 19 such as AP STA 14. One or more Blocks and / or functions and / or methods performed by the AP STA 14 may be performed by one or more elements of the first AP STA 14 such as by AP STA Management Unit 18 in processing circuitry 24, memory 28, processor 26, communication interface 22, etc. according to the example process / method. The first STA is 19 configured to communicate with one or more other STAs 19 using at least a packet. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The first STA 19 is configured to determine (Block SI 34) a first transmission power setting for the first portion of the packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet. The first portion is associated with a first service area 12, and the second portion is associated with a second service area 12. The first service 12 area is larger than the second service area 12. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. Further, the packet is transmitted (Block SI 36) by the first STA 19 to the one or more other STAs 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion. The transmission of the packet causes a first probability of a second STA of the one or more other STAs located in the first service area 12 to decode the first portion of the packet to be higher than a second probability of the second STA to decode the second portion of the packet.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0181] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes transmitting signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during an association process involving the first STA 19; and the at least signaling portion is transmitted using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0182] In some embodiments, the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA 19 of the one or more other STAs 19 change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0183] In some other embodiments, the method further includes extending a length of the first portion based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion. The extension of the length allows the at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0184] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0185] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power that can be used by the first STA 19 for transmitting the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first STA 19 is configured to communicate with the one or more other STAs 19 based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0187] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0188] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA 19 is an access point (AP) STA 14 or a non-AP STA 16; the one or more other STAs 19 are one or more of AP STAs 14 and non-AP STAs 16; and the first STA 19 and the one or more other STAs 19 are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0189] In some other embodiments, during transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs, the change from the first transmission power setting for the first portion to the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a time that coincides with the start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example process in a second STA 19 such as a non-AP STA 16. One or more Blocks and / or functions and / or methods performed by the non-AP STA 16 may be performed by one or more elements of the non-AP STA 16 such as by non-AP STA Management Unit 17 in processing circuitry 36, memory 40, processor 38, communication interface 34, etc. according to the example process / method. The second STA 19 is configured to communicate with a first STA using at least a packet. The packet includes a first portion and a second portion. The second STA 19 is located in a first service area 12. The second STA 19 is configured to receive (Block S138) the packet from the first STA 19 transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion. The first portion is associated with the first service area 12, and the second portion is associated with a second service area 12, where the first service area 12 is larger than the second service area 12. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The second STA 19 is further configured decode (Block S140) the packet. The decoding of the packet includes decoding the first portion and has a first probability of the second STA 19 to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the second STA 19 to decode the second portion of the packet, where the first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0191] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA 19 during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA 19 before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA 19; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA 19 using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0192] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the second STA 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA 19 of the one or more other STAs 19 change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

[0193] In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion, where the extension of the length allows the at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0194] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0195] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0196] In some embodiments, the second STA 19 is configured to communicate with the first STA 19 based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0197] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0198] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA 19 is an access point (AP) STA 14 or a non-AP STA 16; the one or more other STAs 19 are one or more of AP STAs 14 and non-AP STAs 16; and the first STA 19 and the one or more other STAs 19 are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0199] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example process in a third STA 19 such as a non-AP STA 16. One or more Blocks and / or functions and / or methods performed by the non-AP STA 16 may be performed by one or more elements of the non-AP STA 16 such as by non-AP STA Management Unit 17 in processing circuitry 36, memory 40, processor 38, communication interface 34, etc. according to the example process / method. The third STA 19 is configured to receive (Block S142) the packet from the first STA 19 transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion. The first portion is associated with a first service area 12, and the second portion is associated with the second service area 12, where the first service area 12 is larger than the second service area 12. A first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting is higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting. The third STA 19 is further configured to adjust (Block SI 44) a one or both of a receiver setting and a parameter associated at least with the second portion of the packet and decode (Block S146) the packet. The decoding of the packet includes decoding the first and second portions and has a first probability of the third STA 19 to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the third STA 19 to decode the second portion of the packet. The first probability is higher than the second probability.

[0200] In some embodiments, the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for encoding the second portion and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

[0201] In some other embodiments, one or more of the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA 19 during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA 19 before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA 19; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA 19 using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

[0202] In some embodiments, the reception of the packet by the third STA 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA 19 of the one or more other STAs 19 change. The transmission parameter settings are one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting. In some other embodiments, a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion. The extension of the length allows the at least one STA 19 expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

[0203] In some embodiments, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

[0204] In some other embodiments, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

[0205] In some embodiments, the third STA 19 is configured to communicate with the first STA based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

[0206] In some other embodiments, one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal field (L-SIG); and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs 19 using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field (STF) of the preamble.

[0207] In some embodiments, one or more of the first STA 19 is an access point (AP) STA 14 or a non-AP STA 16; the one or more other STAs 19 are one or more of AP STAs 14 and non-AP STAs 16; and the first STA 19 and the one or more other STAs 19 are configured to communicate using a listen before talk (LBT) process.

[0208] Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for management of signaling (and / signaling parameters) transmitted and / or received in listen-before-talk detection areas such as for different modulation and coding schemes.

[0209] In one embodiment, when a STA 19 transmits a packet (e.g., with a higher data- rate MCS used for encoding the data field than the preamble), the preamble portion is transmitted with a higher TX power than the data field. In some embodiments, the preamble portion is transmitted with higher TX power so that the preamble can be successfully decoded with higher probability than the data field, e.g., for a STA in a wider communication area. In some other embodiments, the preamble is transmitted such that the TX power setting of the preamble is independent of the MCS used for encoding the data field. In some embodiments, the change in transmission power coincides with a change in some other relevant transmission parameter. This can help to ensure a consistent LBT detection area across different transmissions, thereby achieving a consistent or predictable potentially collision-free performance over time. In some embodiments, the TX power setting of the preamble is increased when higher data-rate MCSs are used for encoding the data field (i.e., when TX power of the data field needs to be backed off). This can help to ensure that the potential interference at the intended receiver(s) is consistent in that it would decrease for the packets having data fields encoded with higher data-rate MCSs, which are the packets that may require a higher SINR. This latter decrease of interference may be due to that, when the preamble is transmitted with a higher TX power, the LBT detection area in which other devices defer from initiating a transmission may increase. That is, a decrease in the potentially experienced interference at the intended receiver(s) of the receiving STA 19 may result.

[0210] In some embodiments, the STAs 19 undertake signaling to help with determining the power level difference between the preamble and the data field of a packet. This can help to ensure that the intended receiver(s) of the data field can set / modify the receiver gain setting in a timely and suitable manner. There are many possible ways in which such signaling may occur, such as:

[0211] • The transmitter(s) of the packet (i.e.., transmitting STA 19) may indicate the applied TX power difference between the preamble and the data field by including corresponding information in the preamble field. For example: o The information can be in terms of the actual power level difference, e.g., in dBm. o The information can be in terms of a bitmap that indicates the power level difference with certain granularity.

[0212] • The transmitter(s) of the packet (i.e.., transmitting STA 19) and the intended receiver(s) of the data field (i.e.., receiving STA 19) may undertake suitable signaling prior to the transmission of the packet, e.g., during association or using a control frame or a management frame or a prior data packet. o The transmitter(s) of the packet (i.e.., transmitting STAs 19) may share in advance information about its(their) ability to transmit packets with varying power across preamble and data fields, and also the power level difference that may be applied corresponding to different MCSs used for the data field. Such information can help a receiver be aware of the power difference that may be applied by a specific transmitter in advance. With such prior knowledge at hand, any specific power difference related signaling in every packet may be avoided. For example, if a receiver (i.e., receiving STA 19) knows or determines what power difference a transmitter may apply for different MCSs of the data field, then the receiver may only need to know the MCS used for the data field in a timely manner. This information about the MCS used for the data field may be previously communicated using SIG fields of preambles. o The intended receiver(s) of the packet may share in advance about its(their) ability to receive packets with varying power across preamble and data fields, and also relevant information about how much power difference it(they) may be able to accommodate while receiving a packet. The capabilities of different devices may vary due to, e.g., difference in AGC implementations and / or receiver dynamic range. Such information can help the transmitter(s) of the data packet to suitably select the TX powers for the preamble and data field, possibly in a customized manner for different intended receivers.

[0213] In some other embodiments, the change of TX power setting is performed by the STA 19 at a time where other TX settings for a specific intended receiver (i.e.., receiving STA 19) are also potentially changed, where other TX settings may include TX bandwidth or TX beamforming settings. In some embodiments, for IEEE 802.11 WLANs, the change of TX power setting is performed by the STA 19 at a time that coincides with the start of the generation-specific STF field (e.g., HT STF, VHT STF, HE STF, EHT STF) of the preamble of a packet. The generation-specific STF field and the subsequent fields may then be received by the intended receiver(s) (i.e., receiving STA 19) with a similar RX power. This may be especially attractive for Wi-Fi devices that attempt to tune their AGC when receiving the generation-specific STF field. Such a change of power setting may allow the realization of one or more steps described herein without having to change the reception behavior of today’s typical Wi-Fi devices that support, e.g., MIMO communications.

[0214] In some other embodiments, the length of the preamble may be extended by a an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold to increase its duration, e.g., so that the intended receiver(s) of the data field (i.e., receiving STA 19) have extra time to prepare for receiving the data field with a different power level than the preamble (e.g., to adjust the receiver gain setting and avoid potential impact from the corresponding transients). This preamble extension may be performed by adding one or more extra LTFs, which may also help to improve channel estimation.

[0215] It is to be noted that the embodiments described herein are applicable to all types of communicating devices, e.g., in the IEEE 802.11 context, by AP STAs as well as non- AP STAs, and are applicable to uplink, downlink, as well as AP-to-AP and peer-to-peer communications. More specifically, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not applicable only for transmissions performed by AP STAs and may also be applicable for communication performed by non-AP STAs. Moreover, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not applicable only for downlink or uplink communications, but also for peer-to-peer communications among non-AP STAs as well as communication between two AP STAs, or any other type of communication.

[0216] In nonlimiting example, if the STAs 19 (e.g., AP and / or STAs shown FIG. 3) are compliant with Wi-Fi 6 and support corresponding MCSs MCSO to MCS11, then a maximum supported TX power difference, e.g., 8 dB, may be observed between MCSO and MCS11. MCS11 may have the lower maximum TX power. Thus, by following a default setting of using a similar TX power for preamble and data fields, if a first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) transmits packets to the same STAs 19 (e.g., non-AP STA 16) but with different MCSs over time, e.g., due to varying channel conditions, then the corresponding LBT detection areas would vary significantly due to the usage of different TX powers for different packets (mainly due to the significant difference (e.g., up to 8 dB) in maximum supported TX power for different MCSs). This may lead to an inconsistent interference situation and potentially cause more collisions for packets transmitted with higher data- rate MCSs.

[0217] The maximum TX power supported by the AP for MCSO may be 23 dBm and 15 dBm for MCS11. If first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) transmits using MCSO for the data field, it can apply the same 23 dBm TX power to both preamble and data fields. However, if first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) transmits using MCS11 for the data field, first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) may only be able to apply 15 dBm TX power to the data field. Thus, to maintain a similar TX power across the whole packet, it may apply 15 dBm TX power to the corresponding preamble field. This may be acceptable (e.g., functional) from the perspective of the intended receiver(s) of the data field, but not acceptable from the perspective of avoiding collisions when the goal is for the packet to be successfully detected by all STAs 19 in the vicinity (which may cause interference to the reception of the packet or a corresponding acknowledgement frame).

[0218] If the first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) performs one or more steps of the embodiments of the present disclosure, including using a consistent 23 dBm TX power for the preamble irrespective of the MCS used for encoding the data field, the first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) can ensure that the LBT detection area is consistent. Thus, the first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) can facilitate a more consistent and predictable interference situation than the default case. Alternatively, the first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) may use an increasing TX power for the preamble depending on the MCS used for the data field, i.e., using a higher TX power for the preamble for higher data-rate MCSs. That is, the first STA 19 (e.g., AP STA 14) may be able to ensure a consistent interference situation in the sense that it could enable the LBT to be effective in a wider area for higher data-rate MCSs, i.e., which require higher SINR. Moreover, if the intended receivers of the data field STAs 19 (e.g., non-AP STA 16) are aware of the power level difference between the preamble and data field, then STAs 19 (e.g., non-AP STA 16) can be easily accounted for by suitably adjusting the AGC setting in a timely manner.

[0219] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are beneficial at least because wireless communication protocols between two STAs 19 are optimized. For example, appropriate signaling may be standardized to enable IEEE 802.11 WLAN compliant devices to undertake signaling for determining the power level difference between the preamble and data fields of PPDUs.

[0220] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and / or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Any process, step, action and / or functionality described herein may be performed by, and / or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and / or firmware and / or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

[0221] Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0222] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function / act specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0223] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0224] It is to be understood that the functions / acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality / acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

[0225] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Python, Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[0226] Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and / or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

[0227] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A first station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with one or more other STAs (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first STA (19) comprising processing circuitry (24) configured to: determine a first transmission power setting for the first portion of the packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet, the first portion being associated with a first service area (12), the second portion being associated with a second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; and cause transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion, the transmission of the packet causing a first probability of a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) located in the first service area (12) to decode the first portion of the packet to be higher than a second probability of the second STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet.

2. The first STA (19) of Claim 1, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of: independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

3. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein one or more of: the processing circuitry (24) is further configured to cause transmission of signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet;the at least signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during an association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

4. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

5. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the processing circuitry (24) is further configured to: extend a length of the first portion based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

6. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-5, wherein a minimum signal-to- noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

7. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-6, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power that can be used by the first STA (19) for transmitting the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

8. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-7, wherein the first STA (19) is configured to communicate with the one or more other STAs (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

9. The first STA (19) of Claim 8, wherein one or more of the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

10. The first STA (19) of any one of Claims 1-9, wherein one or more of the first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA 16; the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); and the first STA (19) and the one or more other STAs (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

11. A method in a first station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with one or more other STAs (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising: determining (SI 34) a first transmission power setting for the first portion of the packet and a second transmission power setting for the second portion of the packet, the first portion being associated with a first service area (12), the second portion being associated with a second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; and transmitting (S136) the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion, the transmission of the packet causing a first probability of a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) located in the first service area (12)to decode the first portion of the packet to be higher than a second probability of the second STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet.

12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

13. The method of any one of Claims 11 and 12, wherein one or more of the method further includes transmitting signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during an association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

14. The method of any one of Claims 11-13, wherein the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

15. The method of any one of Claims 11-14, wherein the method further includes: extending a length of the first portion based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension ofthe length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

16. The method of any one of Claims 11-15, wherein a minimum signal -to- noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

17. The method of any one of Claims 11-16, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power that can be used by the first STA (19) for transmitting the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power that can be used for transmitting the first portion.

18. The method of any one of Claims 1-7, wherein the first STA (19) is configured to communicate with the one or more other STAs (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein one or more of: the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

20. The method of any one of Claims 11-19, wherein one or more of: the first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA (16); the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); andthe first STA (19) and the one or more other STAs (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

21. A second station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with a first STA (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second station being located in a first service area (12), the second STA (19) comprising processing circuitry (36) configured to: receive the packet from the first STA (19) transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with the first service area (12), the second portion being associated with a second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; and decode the packet, the decoding of the packet including decoding the first portion and having a first probability of the second STA (19) to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the second STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet, the first probability being higher than the second probability.

22. The second STA (19) of Claim 21, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

23. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21 and 22, wherein one or more of the processing circuitry (36) is further configured to receive signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA (19) during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet;the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

24. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21-23, wherein the reception of the packet by the second STA (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

25. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21-24, wherein a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

26. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 22-25, wherein a minimum signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

27. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21-26, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

28. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21-27, wherein the second STA (19) is configured to communicate with the first STA (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

29. The second STA (19) of Claim 28, wherein one or more of: the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

30. The second STA (19) of any one of Claims 21-29, wherein one or more of: the first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA (16); the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); and the first STA (19) and the second STA (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

31. A method in a second station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with a first STA (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second station being located in a first service area (12), the method comprising: receiving (SI 38) the packet from the first STA (19) transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with the first service area (12), the second portion being associated with a second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; and decoding (SI 40) the packet, the decoding of the packet including decoding the first portion and having a first probability of the second STA (19) to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the second STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet, the first probability being higher than the second probability.

32. The method of Claim 31, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of: independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

33. The method of any one of Claims 31 and 32, wherein one or more of: the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA (19) during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

34. The method of any one of Claims 31-33, wherein the reception of the packet by the second STA (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

35. The method of any one of Claims 31-34, wherein a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

36. The method of any one of Claims 32-35, wherein a minimum signal-to- noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

37. The method of any one of Claims 31-36, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

38. The method of any one of Claims 31-37, wherein the second STA (19) is configured to communicate with the first STA (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

39. The method of Claim 38, wherein one or more of: the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

40. The method of any one of Claims 31-39, wherein one or more of: the first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA (16); the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); and the first STA (19) and the second STA (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

41. A third station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with a first STA (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the thirdstation being located in a second service area (12), the third STA (19) comprising processing circuitry (36) configured to: receive the packet from the first STA (19) transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with a first service area (12), the second portion being associated with the second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; adjust a one or both of a receiver setting and a parameter associated at least with the second portion of the packet; and decode the packet, the decoding of the packet including decoding the first and second portions and having a first probability of the third STA (19) to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the third STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet, the first probability being higher than the second probability.

42. The third STA (19) of Claim 41, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

43. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41 and 42, wherein one or more of the processing circuitry (36) is further configured to receive signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA (19) during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) before the transmission of the packet;the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

44. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41-43, wherein the reception of the packet by the third STA (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

45. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41-44, wherein a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

46. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 42-45, wherein a minimum signal- to-noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

47. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41-46, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

48. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41-47, wherein the third STA (19) is configured to communicate with the first STA (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

49. The third STA (19) of Claim 48, wherein one or more of:the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

50. The third STA (19) of any one of Claims 41-49, wherein one or more of the first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA (16); the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); and the first STA (19) and the third STA (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

51. A method in a third station, STA, (19) configured to communicate with a first STA (19) using at least a packet, the packet comprising a first portion and a second portion, the third station being located in a second service area (12), the method comprising: receiving (S142) the packet from the first STA (19) transmitted using a first transmission power setting for the first portion and a second transmission power setting for the second portion, the first portion being associated with a first service area (12), the second portion being associated with the second service area (12), the first service area (12) being larger than the second service area (12), a first transmission power given by the first transmission power setting being higher than a second transmission power given by the second transmission power setting; adjusting (S144) a one or both of a receiver setting and a parameter associated at least with the second portion of the packet; and decoding (SI 46) the packet, the decoding of the packet including decoding the first and second portions and having a first probability of the third STA (19) to decode the first portion of the packet and a second probability of the third STA (19) to decode the second portion of the packet, the first probability being higher than the second probability.

52. The method of Claim 51, wherein the first transmission power setting is one of: independent of a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for encoding the second portion; and changed to increase the first transmission power when the second transmission power is decreased.

53. The method of any one of Claims 51 and 52, wherein one or more of: the method further includes receiving signaling comprising information usable for determining a power level difference between the first portion and second portion; at least a signaling portion of the signaling is transmitted by the first STA (19) during the transmission of the packet; the information is included in the first portion of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) before the transmission of the packet; the at least signaling portion is transmitted during association process involving the first STA (19); and the at least signaling portion is transmitted by the first STA (19) using one or more of a control frame, a management frame, a prior data packet.

54. The method of any one of Claims 51-53, wherein the reception of the packet by the third STA (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed when transmission parameter settings for a second STA (19) of the one or more other STAs (19) change, the transmission parameter settings being one or more of a transmission bandwidth setting and a transmission beamforming setting.

55. The method of any one of Claims 51-54, wherein a length of the first portion is extended based on a predetermined period of time usable by at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion, the extension of the length allowing the at least one STA (19) expected to receive the second portion to make an adjustment for receiving the second portion using the second transmission power setting.

56. The method of any one of Claims 52-55, wherein a minimum signal-to- noise ratio, SNR, for decoding the first portion is lower than the minimum SNR required to decode the second portion.

57. The method of any one of Claims 51-56, wherein, when one or more transmission signal quality conditions are fulfilled, a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the second portion is lower than a maximum transmission power associated with transmission of the first portion.

58. The method of any one of Claims 51-57, wherein the third STA (19) is configured to communicate with the first STA (19) based on one or more rules associated with one or more Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards.

59. The method of Claim 58, wherein one or more of: the first portion corresponds to a preamble portion and the second portion corresponds to a data field portion; the preamble portion includes at least a legacy preamble; the legacy preamble includes one or more of a legacy short training field, L-STF, a legacy long training field, L-LTF, and a legacy signal field, L-SIG; and the transmission of the packet to the one or more other STAs (19) using the first transmission power setting for the first portion and the second transmission power setting for the second portion is performed at a start of a generation-specific short training field, STF, of the preamble.

60. The method of any one of Claims 51-59, wherein one or more of:The first STA (19) is an access point, AP, STA (14) or a non-AP STA (16); the one or more other STAs (19) are one or more of AP STAs (14) and non-AP STAs (16); and the first STA (19) and the third STA (19) are configured to communicate using a listen before talk, LBT, process.

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