Non-primary channel access control

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for non-primary channel access control. Some aspects more specifically relate to switching from a first primary channel to a second primary channel in examples in which an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of an indicated list of OBSSs is detected. In some implementations, a first wireless communication device, such as an access point (AP), may transmit an indication of the list of OBSSs. As such, the first wireless communication device and an associated second wireless communication devices, such as stations (STAs), may determine whether a detected OBSS is on the list of OBSSs and may switch to the second primary channel or remain on the first primary channel. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may indicate different lists of OBSSs to different associated second wireless communications devices in accordance with respective traffic types.

Description

NON-PRIMARY CHANNEL ACCESS CONTROLCROSS REFERENCE

[0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to India Patent Application No. 202341089394 by NAIK et al., entitled “NON-PRIMARY CHANNEL ACCESS OPTIMIZATIONS,” filed December 28, 2023, and India Patent Application No. 202441012428 by NAIK et al., entitled “NON-PRIMARY CHANNEL ACCESS CONTROL,” filed February 21, 2024, each of which is assigned to the assignee hereof, and each of which is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication and, more specifically, to non-primary channel access control.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

[0003] Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various ty pes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. Some wireless communication networks may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (such as time, frequency, or power). Further, a wireless communication network may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA). or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM), among other examples. Wireless communication devices may communicate in accordance with any one or more of such wireless communication technologies, and may include wireless stations (STAs), wireless access points (APs), user equipment (UEs), network entities, or other wireless nodes.

[0004] In some wireless local area networks (WLANs), a wireless communication device may communicate via subchannels over a frequency range. For instance, the subchannels may together support a bandwidth of 320 MHz or more. In some examples, one subchannel of the subchannels may be designated as a primary’ channel.For instance, the wireless communication device may contend for access via the primary' channel. In some implementations, access to a wider bandwidth (such as wider than a bandwidth of the primary channel) may be contingent on access to the primary' channel. Additionally, the primary’ channel may be occupied by, as an example, an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) transmission. In examples in which the primary channel is occupied by' the OBSS transmission, however, a remainder of the bandwidth may not be utilized as wireless communication devices may not successfully contend for the primary channel and as a result also may not be able to utilize the remainder of the bandwidth that is wider than the bandwidth of the primary channel. Additionally, or alternatively, multiple transmissions from OBSSs may occupy the first primary' channel, and, in such examples, the wireless communication devices may have asymmetrical views of different OBSSs. For example, a first OBSS may be detected by a first wireless communication device but be undetected by a second wireless communication device.SUMMARY

[0005] The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

[0006] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device. The method includes establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first basic service set (BSS), a first primary' channel, one or more first secondary' channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary' channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel, transmitting, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more overlapping BSSs (OBSSs), monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary' channel.

[0007] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a first wireless communication device for wireless communication. The first wireless communication device includes a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the first wireless communication device to establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary' channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel, transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs, monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0008] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a first wireless communication device for wireless communication. The first wireless communication device includes means for establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary’ channel, means for transmitting, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs, means for monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and means for communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication. The code includes instructions executable by one or more processors to establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS. a first primarychannel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary' channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel, transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0010] Some examples of the method, first wireless communication devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining that the second primary' channel may be available in accordance with monitoring the first primary' channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. Communicating on the second primary channel may be in accordance with determining that the second primary channel may be available.

[0011] Some examples of the method, first wireless communication devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting one or more second indications of a second one or more OBSSs to a third wireless communication device, the second one or more OBSSs being at least partially different than the one or more OBSSs.

[0012] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device. The method includes establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary' channel, a second primary' channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel, receiving, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs, monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0013] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a first wireless communication device for wireless communication. The first wireless communication device includes a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the first wireless communication device to establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary' channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel, receive, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs, monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0014] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a first wireless communication device for wireless communication. The first wireless communication device includes means for establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary’ channel, means for receiving, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs, means for monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and means for communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0015] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication. The code includes instructions executable by one or more processors to establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS. a first primarychannel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary' channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel, receive, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs. monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs, and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0016] Some examples of the method, first wireless communication devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for determining that the second primary' channel may be available in accordance with monitoring the first primary' channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. Communicating on the second primary channel may be in accordance with determining that the second primary channel may be available.

[0017] Some examples of the method, first wireless communication devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a transmission from the OBSS and transmitting an indication of the OBSS to the second wireless communication device.

[0018] In some examples of the method, first wireless communication devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, each of the one or more OBSSs may be associated with a signal strength of a respective transmission from each of the one or more OBSSs exceeding a signal strength threshold.

[0019] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be draw n to scale.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 shows a pictorial diagram of an example wireless communication network.

[0021] Figure 2 shows an example protocol data unit (PDU) usable for communications between a wireless access point (AP) and one or more wireless stations (STAs).

[0022] Figure 3 shows an example physical layer (PHY) PDU (PPDU) usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.

[0023] Figure 4 shows a hierarchical format of an example PPDU usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.

[0024] Figure 5 shows an example of a wireless communication system that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0025] Figures 6-8 show examples of wireless communication that support nonprimary channel access control.

[0026] Figure 9 shows an example of a process flow that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0027] Figure 10 and 11 show examples of wireless communication systems that support non-primary channel access control.

[0028] Figure 12 shows an example of a process flow that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0029] Figure 13 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0030] Figure 14 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0031] Figures 15-18 show flowcharts illustrating example processes performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control.

[0032] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The following description is directed to some particular examples for the purposes of describing innovative aspects of this disclosure. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude of different ways. Some or all of the described examples may be implemented in any device, system or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals according to one or more of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards, the IEEE 802.15 standards, the Bluetooth® standards as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), or the Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3G, 4G, 5G (New Radio (NR)) or 6G standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), among others. The described examples can be implemented in any suitable device, component, system or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according to one or more of the following technologies or techniques: code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA). orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), spatial division multiple access (SDMA). rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), multi-user shared access (MUSA), single-user (SU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user (MU)-MIMO (MU-MIMO). The described examples also can be implemented using other wireless communication protocols or RF signals suitable for use in one or more of a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), a nonterrestrial network (NTN). or an internet of things (1OT) network.

[0034] Various aspects relate generally to wireless communication and more particularly to channel access. Some aspects more specifically relate to switching from a first primary channel to a second primary' channel in examples in which an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) is detected and in which the detected OBSS may be on a list of OBSSs. In some implementations, a first wireless communication device.such as an access point (AP), may transmit an indication of the list of OBSSs. The first wireless communication device and one or more associated second wireless communication devices, such as stations (STAs), may determine whether a detected OBSS is on the list of OBSSs and may switch to the second primary channel or remain on the first primary channel. For example, the first wireless communication device and / or the second wireless communication device may determine that the detected OBSS is included on the list of OBSSs and may switch to the second primary channel. In some examples, the first wireless communication device may indicate different respective lists of OBSSs to different associated second wireless communications devices. As an example, the first wireless communication device may provide a different list to each of the associated second wireless communication devices in accordance with a different traffic types associated with the second wireless communication devices. For instance, the first wireless communication device may indicate a first OBSS list to the second wireless communication device and a second OBSS list (that is at least partially different than the first OBSS list) to a third wireless communication device in accordance with the second wireless communication device being associated with a different traffic type than a traffic type associated with the third wireless communication device. In some examples, the first wireless communication device may determine to include (such as update the list of OBSSs to include or include during construction of the list of OBSSs) the list of OBSSs in accordance with detected signal strengths associated with identified OBSSs. For example, the first wireless communication device may include an OBSS in the list in examples in which a signal strength of an OBSS transmission for that OBSS exceeds a threshold signal strength.

[0035] Particular aspects of the subject matter in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. In some examples, by determining the list of OBSSs at the AP and indicating the list of OBSSs to the one or more STAs, the AP may establish which OBSSs are visible (such as detected by) to both the AP and one or more STAs in implementations in which an OBSS may be detected by the AP, but the OBSS may be hidden to one or more of the associated STAs (such as asymmetrical views), leading to better communication on the OBSSs that are visible to both the AP and associated STAs. Alternatively, by determining and indicating the list of OBSSs, the AP may establish OBSSs having associated signalstrengths above a threshold such that the transmissions from the OBSSs are decodable at the AP and / or the associated STAs, as a signal strength of the OBSS transmission may be different at the AP and one or more of the associated STAs. Further, by specifying the list of the OBSSs. the first wireless communication device may control access to the second primary channel and improve communication between the wireless communication devices in examples in which the one or more STAs simultaneously switch to and / or concurrently attempt to transmit on the second primary' channel, leading to collisions, transmission failure, or both. For example, the first wireless communication device may include a first quantity of OBSSs on a first list of OBSSs for a first STA associated with a low-priority traffic ty pe and a second quantity of OBSSs larger than the first quantity of OBSSs on a second list of OBSSs for a second STA associated with a high-priority traffic type to ensure that the second STA has a higher probability of switching to and gaining access to the second primary channel when the first primary channel is occupied by a transmission from an OBSS.

[0036] Figure 1 shows a pictorial diagram of an example wireless communication network 100. According to some aspects, the wireless communication network 100 can be an example of a WLAN such as a Wi-Fi network. For example, the wireless communication network 100 can be a network implementing at least one of the IEEE 802. 1 1 family of wireless communication protocol standards (such as defined by the IEEE 802. 11-2020 specification or amendments thereof including, but not limited to, 802.11ay, 8O2.IIax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, 802.11bc, 802.11bd, 8O2.I Ibe, 802.11bf, and 802. 1 Ibn). In some other examples, the wireless communication network 100 can be an example of a cellular radio access network (RAN), such as a 5G or 6G RAN that implements one or more cellular protocols such as those specified in one or more 3GPP standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication netw ork 100 can include a WLAN that functions in an interoperable or converged manner with one or more cellular RANs to provide greater or enhanced network coverage to wireless communication devices within the wireless communication network 100 or to enable such devices to connect to a cellular network’s core, such as to access the network management capabilities and functionality offered by the cellular network core. In some other examples, the wireless communication network 100 can include a WLAN that functions in an interoperable or converged manner with one or more personal areanetworks, such as a network implementing Bluetooth or other wireless technologies, to provide greater or enhanced network coverage or to provide or enable other capabilities, functionality, applications or services.

[0037] The wireless communication network 100 may include numerous wireless communication devices including at least one wireless AP 102 and any number of wireless STAs 104. While one AP 102 is shown in Figure 1, the wireless communication network 100 can include multiple APs 102. The AP 102 can be or represent various different types of network entities including, but not limited to, a home networking AP, an enterprise-level AP, a single-frequency AP. a dual-band simultaneous (DBS) AP, atri-band simultaneous (TBS) AP, a standalone AP, a non- standalone AP, a software-enabled AP (soft AP), and a multi-link AP (also referred to as an AP multi-link device (MLD)), as well as cellular (such as 3GPP, 4G LTE, 5G or 6G) base stations or other cellular network nodes such as a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB). a gNB. a transmission reception point (TRP) or another type of device or equipment included in a RAN, including Open-RAN (O-RAN) network entities, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU) or a radio unit (RU).

[0038] Each of the STAs 104 also may be referred to as a mobile station (MS), a mobile device, a mobile handset, a wireless handset, an access terminal (AT), a user equipment (UE). a subscriber station (SS). or a subscriber unit, among other examples. The STAs 104 may represent various devices such as mobile phones, other handheld or wearable communication devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, Chromebooks. augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) or extended reality (XR) wireless headsets or other peripheral devices, wireless earbuds, other wearable devices, display devices (such as TVs, computer monitors or video gaming consoles), video game controllers, navigation systems, music or other audio or stereo devices, remote control devices, printers, kitchen appliances (including smart refrigerators) or other household appliances, key fobs (such as for passive keyless entry and start (PKES) systems), loT devices, and vehicles, among other examples.

[0039] A single AP 102 and an associated set of STAs 104 may be referred to as a BSS, which is managed by the respective AP 102. Figure 1 additionally shows an example coverage area 108 of the AP 102, which may represent a basic service area (BSA) of the wireless communication network 100. The BSS may be identified bySTAs 104 and other devices by a service set identifier (SSID), as well as a basic service set identifier (BSSID), which may be a medium access control (MAC) address of the AP 102. The AP 102 may periodically broadcast beacon frames (“beacons”) including the BSSID to enable any STAs 104 within wireless range of the AP 102 to “associate” or re-associate with the AP 102 to establish a respective communication link 106 (hereinafter also referred to as a “Wi-Fi link”), or to maintain a communication link 106, with the AP 102. For example, the beacons can include an identification or indication of a primary channel used by the respective AP 102 as well as a timing synchronization function (TSF) for establishing or maintaining timing synchronization with the AP 102. The AP 102 may provide access to external networks to various STAs 104 in the w ireless communication network 100 via respective communication links 106.

[0040] To establish a communication link 106 with an AP 102, each of the STAs 104 is configured to perform passive or active scanning operations (“scans”) on frequency channels in one or more frequency bands (such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, or 60 GHz bands). To perform passive scanning, a STA 104 listens for beacons, which are transmitted by respective APs 102 at periodic time intervals referred to as target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). To perform active scanning, a STA 104 generates and sequentially transmits probe requests on each channel to be scanned and listens for probe responses from APs 102. Each STA 104 may identify, determine, ascertain, or select an AP 102 with which to associate in accordance with the scanning information obtained through the passive or active scans, and to perform authentication and association operations to establish a communication link 106 with the selected AP 102. The selected AP 102 assigns an association identifier (AID) to the STA 104 at the culmination of the association operations, which the AP 102 uses to track the STA 104.

[0041] As a result of the increasing ubiquity of wireless networks, a STA 104 may- have the opportunity to select one of many BSSs within range of the STA 104 or to select among multiple APs 102 that together form an extended service set (ESS) including multiple connected BSSs. For example, the wireless communication network 100 may be connected to a wired or wireless distribution system that may enable multiple APs 102 to be connected in such an ESS. As such, a STA 104 can be covered by more than one AP 102 and can associate with different APs 102 at different times fordifferent transmissions. Additionally, after association with an AP 102, a STA 104 also may periodically scan its surroundings to find a more suitable AP 102 with which to associate. For example, a STA 104 that is moving relative to its associated AP 102 may perform a ‘"roaming” scan to find another AP 102 having more desirable network characteristics such as a greater received signal strength indicator (RS SI) or a reduced traffic load.

[0042] In some examples, STAs 104 may form networks without APs 102 or other equipment other than the STAs 104 themselves. One example of such a network is an ad hoc network (or wireless ad hoc network). Ad hoc networks may alternatively be referred to as mesh networks or peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. In some examples, ad hoc networks may be implemented within a larger network such as the wireless communication network 100. In such examples, while the STAs 104 may be capable of communicating with each other through the AP 102 using communication links 106, STAs 104 also can communicate directly with each other via direct wireless communication links 110. Additionally, two STAs 104 may communicate via a direct wireless communication link 110 regardless of whether both STAs 104 are associated with and served by the same AP 102. In such an ad hoc system, one or more of the STAs 104 may assume the role filled by the AP 102 in a BSS. Such a STA 104 may be referred to as a group owner (GO) and may coordinate transmissions within the ad hoc network. Examples of direct wireless communication links 110 include Wi-Fi Direct connections, connections established by using a Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) link, and other P2P group connections.

[0043] In some networks, the AP 102 or the STAs 104, or both, may support applications associated with high throughput or low-latency requirements, or may provide lossless audio to one or more other devices. For example, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may support applications and use cases associated with ultra-1 ow-1 at ency (ULL), such as ULL gaming, or streaming lossless audio and video to one or more personal audio devices (such as peripheral devices) or AR / VR / MR / XR headset devices. In scenarios in which a user uses two or more peripheral devices, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may support an extended personal audio netw ork enabling communication with the two or more peripheral devices. Additionally, the AP 102 and STAs 104 maysupport additional ULL applications such as cloud-based applications (such as VR cloud gaming) that have ULL and high throughput requirements.

[0044] As indicated above, in some implementations, the AP 102 and the STAs 104 may function and communicate (via the respective communication links 106) according to one or more of the IEEE 802. 11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. These standards define the WLAN radio and baseband protocols for the physical (PHY) and MAC layers. The AP 102 and STAs 104 transmit and receive wireless communications (hereinafter also referred to as “Wi-Fi communications” or “wireless packets”) to and from one another in the form of PHY protocol data units (PPDUs).

[0045] Each PPDU is a composite structure that includes a PHY preamble and a payload that is in the form of a PHY service data unit (PSDU). The information provided in the preamble may be used by a receiving device to decode the subsequent data in the PSDU. In instances in which a PPDU is transmitted over a bonded or wideband channel, the preamble fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of multiple component channels. The PHY preamble may include both a legacy portion (or “legacy preamble”) and a non-legacy portion (or “non-legacy preamble”). The legacy preamble may be used for packet detection, automatic gain control and channel estimation, among other uses. The legacy preamble also may generally be used to maintain compatibility with legacy devices. The format of, coding of, and information provided in the non-legacy portion of the preamble is associated with the particular IEEE 802. 11 wireless communication protocol to be used to transmit the payload.

[0046] The APs 102 and STAs 104 in the wireless communication network 100 may transmit PPDUs over an unlicensed spectrum, which may be a portion of spectrum that includes frequency bands traditionally used by Wi-Fi technology, such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz bands. Some examples of the APs 102 and STAs 104 described herein also may communicate in other frequency bands that may support licensed or unlicensed communications. For example, the APs 102 or STAs 104, or both, also may be capable of communicating over licensed operating bands. In some examples, multiple operators may have respective licenses to operate in the same or overlapping frequency ranges. Such licensed operating bands may map to or be associated with frequency range designations of FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2(24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz).

[0047] Each of the frequency bands may include multiple sub-bands and frequency channels (also referred to as subchannels). The terms “channel'’ and “subchannel’" may be used interchangeably herein, as each may refer to a portion of frequency spectrum within a frequency band (such as a 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz portion of frequency spectrum) via which communication between two or more wireless communication devices can occur. For example, PPDUs conforming to the IEEE 802. 1 In, 802. 1 lac. 802. 1 lax, 802. 1 Ibe and 802. 1 Ibn standard amendments may be transmitted over one or more of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz bands, each of which is divided into multiple 20 MHz channels. As such, these PPDUs are transmitted over a physical channel having a minimum bandwidth of 20 MHz, but larger channels can be formed through channel bonding. For example, PPDUs may be transmitted over physical channels having bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, 320 MHz, 480 MHz, or 640 MHz by bonding together multiple 20 MHz channels.

[0048] An AP 102 may determine or select an operating or operational bandwidth for the STAs 104 in its BSS and select a range of channels within a band to provide that operating bandwidth. For example, the AP 102 may select sixteen 20 MHz channels that collectively span an operating bandwidth of 320 MHz. Within the operating bandwidth, the AP 102 may typically select a single primary 20 MHz channel on which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 in its BSS monitor for contention-based access schemes. In some examples, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may be capable of monitoring a single primary 20 MHz channel for packet detection (such as for detecting preambles of PPDUs). In some other examples, any transmission by an AP 102 or a STA 104 within a BSS may involve transmission on the primary 20 MHz channel. As such, in other different systems, the transmitting device may contend on and win a TXOP on the primary’ channel to transmit anything at all. However, some APs 102 and STAs 104 supporting ultra-high reliability (UHR) communications or communication according to the IEEE 802.1 Ibn standard amendment can be configured to operate, monitor, contend and communicate using multiple primary’ 20 MHz channels. Such monitoring of multiple primary 20 MHz channels may be sequential such that responsive to determining, ascertaining or detecting that a first primary 20 MHz channel is notavailable, a wireless communication device may switch to monitoring and contending using a second primary’ 20 MHz channel. Additionally, or alternatively, a wireless communication device may be configured to monitor multiple primary 20 MHz channels in parallel. In some examples, a first primary 20 MHz channel may be referred to as a main primary (M-Primary) channel and one or more additional, second primary' channels may each be referred to as an opportunistic primary7(O-Primary) channel. For example, if a wireless communication device measures, identifies, ascertains, detects, or otherwise determines that the M-Primary channel is busy or occupied (such as due to an OBSS transmission), the wireless communication device may switch to monitoring and contending on an O-Primary channel. In some examples, the M-Primary7channel may be used for beaconing and serving legacy client devices and an O-Primary channel may be specifically used by non-legacy (such as UHR- or IEEE 802. 1 Ibn-compatible) devices for opportunistic access to spectrum that may be otherwise under-utilized.

[0049] In some examples, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 of the wireless communication network 100 may implement Extremely High Throughput (EHT) or other features compliant with current and future generations of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards (such as the IEEE 802. 1 Ibe and 802.1 Ibn standard amendments) to provide additional capabilities over other previous systems (such as High Efficiency (HE) systems or other legacy systems). For example, the IEEE 802. 11 be standard amendment introduced 320 MHz channels, which are twice as wide as those possible with the IEEE 802. 1 lax standard amendment. Accordingly, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may use 320 MHz channels enabling double the throughput and network capacity, as well as providing rate versus range gains at high data rates due to linear bandwidth versus log SNR trade-off. EHT and newer wireless communication protocols (such as the protocols referred to as or associated w ith the IEEE 802. 1 Ibn standard amendment) may support flexible operating bandwidth enhancements, such as broadened operating bandwidths relative to legacy operating bandw idths or more granular operation relative to legacy operation. For example, an EHT system may allow7communications spanning operating bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, and 320 MHz. EHT systems may support multiple bandw idth modes such as a contiguous 240 MHz bandwidth mode, acontiguous 320 MHz bandwidth mode, a noncontiguous 160+160 MHz bandwidth mode, or a noncontiguous 80+80+80+80 (or “4x80”) MHz bandwidth mode.

[0050] In some examples in which a wireless communication device (such as the AP 102 or the STA 104) operates in a contiguous 320 MHz bandwidth mode or a 160+160 MHz bandwidth mode, signals for transmission may be generated by two different transmit chains of the wireless communication device each having or associated with a bandwidth of 160 MHz (and each coupled to a different power amplifier). In some other examples, two transmit chains can be used to support a 240 MHz / 160+80 MHz bandwidth mode by puncturing 320 MHz / 160+160 MHz bandwidth modes with one or more 80 MHz subchannels. For example, signals for transmission may be generated by two different transmit chains of the wireless communication device each having a bandwidth of 160 MHz with one of the transmit chains outputting a signal having an 80 MHz subchannel punctured therein. In some other examples in which the wireless communication device may operate in a contiguous 240 MHz bandwidth mode, or a noncontiguous 160 + 80 MHz bandwidth mode, the signals for transmission may be generated by three different transmit chains of the wireless communication device, each having a bandwidth of 80 MHz. In some other examples, signals for transmission may be generated by four or more different transmit chains of the wireless communication device, each having a bandwidth of 80 MHz.

[0051] In noncontiguous examples, the operating bandwidth may span one or more disparate sub-channel sets. For example, the 320 MHz bandwidth may be contiguous and located in the same 6 GHz band or noncontiguous and located in different bands or regions within a band (such as partly in the 5 GHz band and partly in the 6 GHz band).

[0052] In some examples, the AP 102 or the STA 104 may benefit from operability enhancements associated with EHT and newer generations of the IEEE 802. 11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. For example, the AP 102 or the STA 104 attempting to gain access to the wireless medium of the wireless communication network 100 may perform techniques (which may include modifications to existing rules, structure, or signaling implemented for legacy systems) such as clear channel assessment (CCA) operation based on EHT enhancements such as increased bandwidth, puncturing, or refinements to carrier sensing and signal reporting mechanisms.

[0053] Figure 2 shows an example protocol data unit (PDU) 200 usable for wireless communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. The PDU 200 can be configured as a PPDU. As shown, the PDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 202 and a PHY payload 204. For example, the preamble 202 may include a legacy portion that itself includes a legacy short training field (L- STF) 206, which may consist of two symbols, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 208, which may consist of two symbols, and a legacy signal field (L-SIG) 210, which may consist of two symbols. The legacy portion of the preamble 202 may be configured according to the IEEE 802. 1 la wireless communication protocol standard. The preamble 202 also may include a non-legacy portion including one or more non-legacy fields 212, for example, conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802. 11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.

[0054] The L-STF 206 generally enables a receiving device (such as an AP 102 or a STA 104) to perform coarse timing and frequency tracking and automatic gain control (AGC). The L-LTF 208 generally enables the receiving device to perform fine timing and frequency tracking and also to perform an initial estimate of the wireless channel. The L-SIG 210 generally enables the receiving device to determine (such as obtain, select, identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) a duration of the PDU and to use the determined duration to avoid transmitting on top of the PDU. The legacy portion of the preamble, including the L-STF 206, the L-LTF 208 and the L-SIG 210, may be modulated according to a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme. The payload 204 may be modulated according to a BPSK modulation scheme, a quadrature BPSK (Q-BPSK) modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation scheme, or another appropriate modulation scheme. The payload 204 may include a PSDU including a data field (DATA) 214 that, in turn, may carry higher layer data, for example, in the form of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) or an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU).

[0055] Figure 3 shows an example physical layer (PHY) PDU (PPDU) 350 usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. As shown, the PPDU 350 includes a PHY preamble, thatincludes a legacy portion 352 and a non-legacy portion 354, and a payload 356 that includes a data field 374. The legacy portion 352 of the preamble includes an L-STF 358, an L-LTF 360, and an L-SIG 362. The non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble includes a repetition of L-SIG (RL-SIG) 364 and multiple wireless communication protocol version-dependent signal fields after RL-SIG 364. For example, the non- legacy portion 354 may include a universal signal field 366 (referred to herein as “U- SIG 366’') and an EHT signal field 368 (referred to herein as “EHT-SIG 368"’). The presence of RL-SIG 364 and U-SIG 366 may indicate to EHT- or later version- compliant ST As 104 that the PPDU 350 is an EHT PPDU or a PPDU conforming to any later (post-EHT) version of a new wireless communication protocol conforming to a future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard. One or both of U-SIG 366 and EHT-SIG 368 may be structured as, and cany' version-dependent information for. other wireless communication protocol versions associated with amendments to the IEEE family of standards beyond EHT. For example, U-SIG 366 may be used by a receiving device (such as an AP 102 or a STA 104) to interpret bits in one or more of EHT-SIG 368 or the data field 374. Like L-STF 358, L-LTF 360, and L-SIG 362, the information in U-SIG 366 and EHT-SIG 368 may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the component 20 MHz channels in instances involving the use of a bonded channel.

[0056] The non-legacy portion 354 further includes an additional short training field 370 (referred to herein as “EHT-STF 370,” although it may be structured as, and cany version-dependent information for, other wireless communication protocol versions beyond EHT) and one or more additional long training fields 372 (referred to herein as “EHT-LTFs 372,” although they may be structured as, and carry version-dependent information for, other wireless communication protocol versions beyond EHT). EHT- STF 370 may be used for timing and frequency tracking and AGC, and EHT-LTF 372 may be used for more refined channel estimation.

[0057] EHT-SIG 368 may be used by an AP 102 to identify and inform one or multiple STAs 104 that the AP 102 has scheduled uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) resources for them. EHT-SIG 368 may be decoded by each compatible STA 104 served by the AP 102. EHT-SIG 368 may generally be used by the receiving device to interpret bits in the data field 374. For example, EHT-SIG 368 may include resource unit (RU) allocation information, spatial stream configuration information, and per-user(such as STA-specific) signaling information. Each EHT-SIG 368 may include a common field and at least one user-specific field. In the context of OFDMA, the common field can indicate RU distributions to multiple STAs 104, indicate the RU assignments in the frequency domain, indicate which RUs are allocated for MU-MIMO transmissions and which RUs correspond to OFDMA transmissions, and the number of users in allocations, among other examples. The user-specific fields are assigned to particular STAs 104 and carry STA-specific scheduling information such as userspecific MCS values and user-specific RU allocation information. Such information enables the respective STAs 104 to identify and decode corresponding RUs in the associated data field 374.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a hierarchical format of an example PPDU usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. As described, each PPDU 400 includes a PHY preamble 402 and a PSDU 404. Each PSDU 404 may represent (or “carry”) one or more MPDUs 416. For example, each PSDU 404 may cany' an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU) 406 that includes an aggregation of multiple A-MPDU subframes 408. Each A-MPDU subframe 408 may include an MPDU frame 410 that includes a MAC delimiter 412 and a MAC header 414 prior to the accompanying MPDU 416, which includes the data portion (“payload” or “frame body”) of the MPDU frame 410. Each MPDU frame 410 also may include a frame check sequence (FCS) field 418 for error detection (such as the FCS field 418 may include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)) and padding bits 420. The MPDU 416 may carry one or more MAC service data units (MSDUs) 430. For example, the MPDU 416 may carry an aggregated MSDU (A-MSDU) 422 including multiple A-MSDU subframes 424. Each A-MSDU subframe 424 may be associated with an MSDU frame 426 and may contain a corresponding MSDU 430 preceded by a subframe header 428 and, in some examples, followed by padding bits 432.

[0059] Referring back to the MPDU frame 410, the MAC delimiter 412 may serve as a marker of the start of the associated MPDU 416 and indicate the length of the associated MPDU 416. The MAC header 414 may include multiple fields containing information that defines or indicates characteristics or attributes of data encapsulated within the frame body. The MAC header 414 includes a duration field indicating aduration extending from the end of the PPDU until at least the end of an acknowledgement (ACK) or Block ACK (BA) of the PPDU that is to be transmitted by the receiving wireless communication device. The use of the duration field serves to reserve the wireless medium for the indicated duration and enables the receiving device to establish its network allocation vector (NAV). The MAC header 414 also includes one or more fields indicating addresses for the data encapsulated within the frame body. For example, the MAC header 414 may include a combination of a source address, a transmitter address, a receiver address or a destination address. The MAC header 414 may further include a frame control field containing control information. The frame control field may specify a frame type, for example, a data frame, a control frame, or a management frame.

[0060] In some wireless communication systems, wireless communication between an AP 102 and an associated STA 104 can be secured. For example, either an AP 102 or a STA 104 may establish a security key for securing wireless communication between itself and the other device and may encr pt the contents of the data and management frames using the security key. In some examples, the control frame and fields within the MAC header of the data or management frames, or both, also may be secured either via encryption or via an integrity check (such as by generating a message integrity check (MIC) for one or more relevant fields.

[0061] Access to the shared wireless medium is generally governed by a distributed coordination function (DCF). With a DCF, there is generally no centralized master device allocating time and frequency resources of the shared wireless medium. On the contrary, before a wireless communication device, such as an AP 102 or a STA 104, is permitted to transmit data, it may wait for a particular time and contend for access to the wireless medium. The DCF is implemented through the use of time intervals (including the slot time (or “slot interval’') and the inter-frame space (IFS). IFS provides priority access for control frames used for proper network operation. Transmissions may begin at slot boundaries. Different varieties of IFS exist including the short IFS (SIFS), the distributed IFS (DIFS), the extended IFS (EIFS), and the arbitration IFS (AIFS). The values for the slot time and IFS may be provided by a suitable standard specification, such as one or more of the IEEE 802. 11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.

[0062] In some examples, the wireless communication device (such as the AP 102 or the STA 104) may implement the DCF through the use of carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) with collision avoidance (CA) (CSMA / CA) techniques. According to such techniques, before transmitting data, the wireless communication device may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) and may determine (such as identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) that the relevant wireless channel is idle. The CCA includes both physical (PHY -level) carrier sensing and virtual (MAC-level) carrier sensing. Physical carrier sensing is accomplished via a measurement of the received signal strength of a valid frame, which is compared to a threshold to determine (such as identify’, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) whether the channel is busy. For example, if the received signal strength of a detected preamble is above a threshold, the medium is considered busy. Physical carrier sensing also includes energy detection. Energy detection involves measuring the total energy the wireless communication device receives regardless of whether the received signal represents a valid frame. If the total energy detected is above a threshold, the medium is considered busy.

[0063] Virtual carrier sensing is accomplished via the use of a NAV, which effectively ser es as a time duration that elapses before the wireless communication device may contend for access even in the absence of a detected symbol or even if the detected energy is below the relevant threshold. The NAV is reset each time a valid frame is received that is not addressed to the wireless communication device. When the NAV reaches 0, the wireless communication device performs the physical carrier sensing. If the channel remains idle for the appropriate IFS, the wireless communication device initiates a backoff timer, which represents a duration of time that the device senses the medium to be idle before it is permitted to transmit. If the channel remains idle until the backoff timer expires, the wireless communication device becomes the holder (or “owner”) of a transmit opportunity (TXOP) and may begin transmitting. The TXOP is the duration of time the wireless communication device can transmit frames over the channel after it has “won” contention for the wireless medium. The TXOP duration may be indicated in the U-SIG field of a PPDU. If, on the other hand, one or more of the carrier sense mechanisms indicate that the channel is busy, a MAC controller within the wireless communication device will not permit transmission.

[0064] Each time the wireless communication device generates a new PPDU for transmission in anew TXOP, it randomly selects a new backoff timer duration. The available distribution of the numbers that may be randomly selected for the backoff timer is referred to as the contention window (CW). There are different CW and TXOP durations for each of the four access categories (ACs): voice (AC_VO), video (AC_VI), background (AC_BK), and best effort (AC_BE). This enables particular types of traffic to be prioritized in the network.

[0065] In some other examples, the wireless communication device (such as the AP 102 or the STA 104) may contend for access to the wireless medium of a WLAN in accordance with an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) procedure. A random channel access mechanism such as EDCA may afford high-priority traffic a greater likelihood of gaining medium access than low-priority traffic. The wireless communication device using EDCA may classify data into different access categories. Each AC may be associated with a different priority level and may be assigned a different range of random backoffs (RBOs) so that higher priority' data is more likely to win a TXOP than lower priority data (such as by assigning lower RBOs to higher priority data and assigning higher RBOs to lower priority data). Although EDCA increases the likelihood that low-latency data traffic will gain access to a shared w ireless medium during a given contention period, unpredictable outcomes of medium access contention operations may prevent low-latency applications from achieving certain levels of throughput or satisfy ing certain latency requirements.

[0066] Some APs and STAs, such as, for example, the AP 102 and STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1, are capable of multi-link operation (MLO). For example, the AP 102 and STAs 104 may support MLO as defined in one or both of the IEEE 802. 1 Ibe and 802. 1 Ibn standard amendments. An MLO-capable device may be referred to as a MLD. In some examples, MLO supports establishing multiple different communication links (such as a first link on the 2.4 GHz band, a second link on the 5 GHz band, and the third link on the 6 GHz band) between MLDs. Each communication link may support one or more sets of channels or logical entities. For example, an AP MLD may set, for each of the communication links, a respective operating bandwidth, one or more respective primary channels, and various BSS configuration parameters. An MLD may include a single upper MAC entity, and caninclude, for example, three independent lower MAC entities and three associated independent PHY entities for respective links in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. This architecture may enable a single association process and security context. An AP MLD may include multiple APs 102 each configured to communicate on a respective communication link with a respective one of multiple STAs 104 of a non-AP MLD (also referred to as a “STA MLD”).

[0067] To support MLO techniques, an AP MLD and a STA MLD may exchange MLO capability information (such as supported aggregation types or supported frequency bands, among other information). In some examples, the exchange of information may occur via a beacon frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, another management frame, a dedicated action frame, or an operating mode indicator (OMI), among other examples. In some examples, an AP MLD may designate a specific channel of one link in one of the bands as an anchor channel on which it transmits beacons and other control or management frames periodically. In such examples, the AP MLD also may transmit shorter beacons (such as ones which may contain less information) on other links for discovery or other purposes.

[0068] MLDs may exchange packets on one or more of the communications links dynamically and. in some instances, concurrently. MLDs also may independently contend for access on each of the communication links, which achieves latency reduction by enabling the MLD to transmit its packets on the first communication link that becomes available. For example, “alternating multi-link” may refer to an MLO mode in which an MLD may listen on two or more different high-performance links and associated channels concurrently. In an alternating multi-link mode of operation, an MLD may alternate between use of two links to transmit portions of its traffic. Specifically, an MLD with buffered traffic may use the first link on which it wins contention and obtains a TXOP to transmit the traffic. While such an MLD may in some examples be capable of transmitting or receiving on one communication link at any given time, having access opportunities via two different links enables the MLD to avoid congestion, reduce latency, and maintain throughput.

[0069] Multi-link aggregation (MLA) (which also may be referred to as carrier aggregation (CA)) is another MLO mode in which an MLD may simultaneouslytransmit or receive traffic to or from another MLD via multiple communication links in parallel such that utilization of available resources may be increased to achieve higher throughput. That is, during at least some duration of time, transmissions or portions of transmissions may occur over two or more communication links in parallel at the same time. In some examples, the parallel communication links may support synchronized transmissions. In some other examples, or during some other durations of time, transmissions over the communication links may be parallel, but not be synchronized or concurrent. Additionally, in some examples or durations of time, two or more of the communication links may be used for communications between MLDs in the same direction (such as all uplink or all downlink), while in some other examples or durations of time, two or more of the communication links may be used for communications in different directions (such as one or more communication links may support uplink communications and one or more communication links may support downlink communications). In such examples, at least one of the MLDs may operate in a full duplex mode.

[0070] MLA may be packet-based or flow-based. For packet-based aggregation, frames of a single traffic flow (such as all traffic associated with a given traffic identifier (TID)) may be transmitted concurrently across multiple communication links. For flow-based aggregation, each traffic flow (such as all traffic associated with a given TID) may be transmitted using a single respective one of multiple communication links. As an example, a single STA MLD may access a web browser while streaming a video in parallel. Per the above example, the traffic associated with the web browser access may be communicated over a first communication link while the traffic associated with the video stream may be communicated over a second communication link in parallel (such that at least some of the data may be transmitted on the first channel concurrently with data transmitted on the second channel). In some other examples, MLA may be implemented with a hybrid of flow -based and packet-based aggregation. For example, an MLD may employ flow-based aggregation in situations in which multiple traffic flows are created and may employ packet-based aggregation in other situations. Switching among the MLA techniques or modes may additionally, or alternatively, be associated with other metrics (such as a time of day, traffic load within the network, orbattery power for a wireless communication device, among other factors or considerations).

[0071] Other MLO techniques may be associated with traffic steering and quality of service (QoS) characterization, which may achieve latency reduction and other QoS enhancements by mapping traffic flows having different latency or other requirements to different links. For example, traffic with low latency requirements may be mapped to communication links operating in the 6 GHz band and more latency-tolerant flows may be mapped to communication links operating in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. Such an operation, referred to as TID-to-Link mapping (TTLM), may enable two MLDs to negotiate mapping of certain traffic flows in the DL direction or the UL direction or both directions to one or more set of communication links set up between them. In some examples, an AP MLD may advertise a global TTLM that applies to all associated non-AP MLDs. A communication link that has no TIDs mapped to it in either direction is referred to as a disabled link. An enabled link has at least one T1D mapped to it in at least one direction.

[0072] In some examples, an MLD may include multiple radios and each communication link associated with the MLD may be associated with a respective radio of the MLD. Each radio may include one or more of its own transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) chains, include or be coupled with one or more of its own physical antennas or shared antennas, and include signal processing components, among other components. An MLD with multiple radios that may be used concurrently for MLO may be referred to as a multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) MLD. Some MLMR MLDs may further be capable of an enhanced MLMR (eMLMR) mode of operation, in which the MLD may be capable of dynamically switching radio resources (such as antennas or RF frontends) between multiple communication links (such as switching from using radio resources for one communication link to using the radio resources for another communication link) to enable higher transmission and reception using higher capacity on a given communication link. In this eMLMR mode of operation, MLDs may be able to move Tx / Rx radio resources from one communication link to another link, thereby increasing the spatial stream capability of the other communication link. For example, if a non-AP MLD includes four or more STAs. the STAs associated with the eMLMR links may“pool” their antennas so that each of the STAs can utilize the antennas of other STAs when transmitting or receiving on one of the eMLMR links.

[0073] Other MLDs may have more limited capabilities and not include multiple radios. An MLD with a single radio that is shared for multiple communication links may be referred to as a multi-link single radio (MLSR) MLD. Control frames may be exchanged between MLDs before initiating data or management frame exchanges between the MLDs in cases in which at least one of the MLDs is operating as an MLSR MLD. Because an MLD operating in the MLSR mode is limited to a single radio, it cannot use multiple communication links simultaneously and may instead listen to (such as monitor), transmit or receive on a single communication link at any given time. An MLSR MLD may instead switch between different bands in a TDM manner. In contrast, some MLSR MLDs may further be capable of an enhanced MLSR (eMLSR) mode of operation, in which the MLD can concurrently listen on multiple links for specific types of packets, such as buffer status report poll (BSRP) frames or MU request-to-send (RTS) (MU-RTS) frames. Although an MLD operating in the eMLSR mode can still transmit or receive on one of the links at any given time, it may be able to dynamically switch between bands, resulting in improvements in both latency and throughput. For example, when the STAs of a non-AP MLD may detect a BSRP frame on their respective communication links, the non-AP MLD may tune all of its antennas to the communication link on which the BSRP frame is detected. By contrast, a non-AP MLD operating in the MLSR mode can listen to, and transmit or receive on, one communication link at any given time.

[0074] An MLD that is capable of simultaneous transmission and reception on multiple communication links may be referred to as a simultaneous transmission and reception (STR) device. In a STR-capable MLD, a radio associated with a communication link can independently transmit or receive frames on that communication link without interfering with, or without being interfered with by, the operation of another radio associated with another communication link of the MLD. For example, an MLD with a suitable filter may simultaneously transmit on a 2.4 GHz band and receive on a 5 GHz band, or vice versa, or simultaneously transmit on the 5 GHz band and receive on the 6 GHz band, or vice versa, and as such, be considered a STR device for the respective paired communication links. Such an STR-capable MLDmay generally be an AP MLD or a higher-end STA MLD having a higher performance filter. An MLD that is not capable of simultaneous transmission and reception on multiple communication links may be referred to as a non-STR (NSTR) device. A radio associated with a given communication link in an NSTR device may experience interference when there is a transmission on another communication link of the NSTR device. For example, an MLD with a standard filter may not be able to simultaneously transmit on a 5 GHz band and receive on a 6 GHz band, or vice versa, and as such, may be considered a NSTR device for those two communication links.

[0075] In some wireless communication systems, an MLD may include multiple non-collocated entities. For example, an AP MLD may include non-collocated AP devices and a STA MLD may include non-collocated STA devices. In examples in which an AP MLD includes multiple non-collocated AP devices, a single mobility7domain (SMD) entity7may refer to a logical entity that controls the associated noncollocated APs. A non-AP STA (such as a non-MLD non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD that includes one or more associated non-AP STAs) may associate with the SMD entity via one of its constituent APs and may seamlessly roam (such as without requiring reassociation) between the APs associated with the SMD entity. The SMD entity7also may maintain other context (such as security7and Block ACK) for non-AP STAs associated with it.

[0076] The afore-mentioned and related MLO techniques may provide multiple benefits to a wireless communication network 100. For example, MLO may improve user perceived throughput (UPT) (such as by quickly flushing per-user transmit queues). Similarly, MLO may improve throughput by7improving utilization of available channels and may increase spectral utilization (such as increasing the bandwidth-time product). Further, MLO may enable smooth transitions between multi-band radios (such as where each radio may be associated with a given RF band) or enable a framework to set up separation of control channels and data channels. Other benefits of MLO include reducing the "on" time of a modem, which may benefit a wireless communication device in terms of power consumption. Another benefit of MLO is the increased multiplexing opportunities in the case of a single BSS. For example, MLA may increase the number of users per multiplexed transmission served by the multi-link AP MLD.

[0077] Figure 5 shows an example of a wireless communication system 500 that supports non-primary channel access control. The wireless communication system 500 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, or any combination thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 500 illustrates communication between an AP 102-a, an AP 102-b, an AP 102-c and a STA 104-a, a STA 104-b, and a STA 104-c on a first primary channel 502-a and a second primary channel 502 -b, which may be examples of the AP 102 and the STA 104 respectively, as illustrated by and described with reference to Figure 1.

[0078] The APs 102 may communicate with associated STAs 104 via a wireless communication link 502. The wireless communication link 502 may be associated with a first BSS and one or more channels, including a first primary channel 504-a and a second primary channel 504-b. In some aspects, the first primary channel 504-a may be associated with one or more first secondary channels, and the second primary channel 504-b may be associated with one or more second secondary channels.

[0079] The APs 102 may communicate with associated STAs 104 over one or more channels. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may communicate on the first primary’ channel 502-a. In some aspects, the first primary channel 502-a may be associated with a frequency range or bandwidth, such as 20 MHz. The first primary channel 502-a may' be referred to as a primary' channel, a main primary channel (such as m-primary), and / or primary-1. In some examples, the APs 102 and the STAs 104 may communicate on the second primary channel 502-b. In some aspects, the second primary’ channel 502-b may be associated with a frequency range or bandwidth, such as 20 MHz. The frequency range and / or bandwidth associated with the second primary channel 502-b may be the same as or different than the frequency range or bandwidth associated with the first primary channel 502-a. The second primary channel 502-b maybe referred to as an opportunistic channel (such as an o-primary channel), an anchor channel, an auxiliary channel, temporary' primary channel, a temporary channel, and / or primary-2. The second primary channel 502-b may be a back-up or fallback channel to the first primary’ channel 502-a. Additionally, or alternatively, the APs 102 may perform EMSLR operations. For example, the AP 102, which may be an example of an EMLSR AP, may communicate via a primary link and nonprimary links. In someaspects, the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b may be on different communication links. The first primary' channel 502-a may be on the first primary' channel 502-a while the second primary' channel 502-b may be on one of the nonprimary links (such as in an EMLSR operation). Alternatively, the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b may be on a same communication link (such as in a non-primary channel operation). The APs 102 and the STAs 104 may communicate on the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the first primary’ channel 502-a is unavailable (such as busy).

[0080] As an example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may contend for access to the first primary channel 502-a. While contending for access, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may detect (such as identify) an OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a. That is, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may determine that the first primary’ channel 502-a is occupied by the OBSS PPDU 504. For example, one or more of the STAs 104. such as the STA 104-b may occupy the first primary channel 502-a with the OBSS PPDU 504 such that the AP 102-a, the AP 102-b, the AP 102-c, the STA 104-a, and / or the STA 104-c may detect the OBSS PPDU 504.

[0081] After detecting the OBSS PPDU 504, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may switch to the second primary channel 502-b. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may contend for access to the second primary channel 502-b after identifying the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a. In some aspects, contending for access to the second primary' channel 502-b may involve a countdown, such as an RBO countdown, and an exchange of one or more control frames, such as ICFs. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may exchange one or more control frames, such as a first control frame 506-a and a second control frame 506-b, to support the access procedure for the second primary’ channel 502-b. The first control frame 506-a and the second control frame 506-b may be RTS and clear to send (CTS) frames, MU RTS and CTS frames, BSRP and buffer status report (BSR) frames, or among other examples.

[0082] In some aspects, a transmitting device, such as one of the APs 102, and / or a receiving device, such as one of the STAs 104, may have a switching delay, such as a first duration 508-a, associated w ith a duration of time between detecting the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a and switching to the second primarychannel 502 -b. For example, the transmitting device and / or receiving device may have a switching delay associated with sequential monitoring. In some other aspects, the transmitting device and / or the receiving device may monitor the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b in parallel such that the transmitting device and / or the receiving device do not have a switching delay or have a negligible switching delay. Sequential monitoring and parallel monitoring may be described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 6.

[0083] In some aspects, a switching delay of the transmitting device may be the same or different than a switching delay of the receiving device. In other words, the AP 102-a may detect the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a and switch to the second primary channel 502-b over a first duration (such as a first delay) while the STA 104-a may detect the OBSS PPDU 504 and switch to the second primary channel 502-b over a second duration (such as a second delay). The second duration may be the same as, greater than, or less than the first duration.

[0084] Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitting device and / or the receiving device may have a switching delay, such as a third duration 508-c, associated with a time during which the transmitting device and / or the receiving device switches from the second primary channel 502-b to the first primary channel 502-a. For example, the transmitting device and / or the receiving device may leave the second primary channel 502-b after exchanging the feedback 512 in order to return to the first primary channel 502-a by the end of the NAV 510 (such as in examples in which the first primary' channel 502-a is available).

[0085] The transmitting device, such as the AP 102-a. may transmit the first control frame 506-a after a transmission delay, such as a second duration 508-b, between detection of the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a and transmission of the first control frame 506-a on the second primary' channel 502-b. The AP 102-a may select (such as determine or implement) the second duration 508-b such that the first control frame 506-a is transmitted after the associated STAs. such as the STA 104-a, switch to the second primary channel 502-b. In other words, the second duration 508-b may be longer than a greatest duration of the switching delay of the transmitting device or a switching delay of the receiving device. As an example, in examples in which the receiving device is associated with a longer switching delay than thetransmitting device, the second duration 508-b may be equal to or longer than the duration of the switching delay of the receiving device.

[0086] In some aspects, a duration between an end (such as an end in time) of the switching delay and the transmission of the first control frame 506-a may include one or more count down timers associated with a channel access procedure, such as RBOs. As an example, after switching to the second primary channel 502-b and before transmitting the first control frame 506-a, the AP 102-a may count down for a duration of one or more RBOs. The AP 102-a may count down for the duration of the one or more RBOs in accordance with an access procedure for the second primary channel 502-b.

[0087] The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may exchange messages on the second primary' channel 502-b according to a duration indicated via a NAV 510. In other words, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may complete an exchange of the messages on the second primary channel 502-b before switching to (such as back to) the first primary channel 502-a. For example, the AP 102-a may transmit one or more PPDUs in a duration between reception of the second control frame 506-b and reception of feedback 512 (such as an ACK or NACK message). The AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may set the NAV 510 according to a duration field indicated via the OBSS PPDU 504. In other words, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may refrain from switching back to the first primary' channel 502-a from the second primary channel 502-b in accordance with the duration of the NAV 510. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may switch back to the second primary channel 502-b at or before the NAV 510 expires. The duration of the NAV 510 may be set according to a field in the OBSS PPDU 504.

[0088] The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may switch to the first primary channel 502-a from the second primary7channel 502-b by the end of the NAV 510. That is, according to a respective switching duration of the AP 102-a or the STA 104-a (which may be the same or different), the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may switch to the first primary’ channel 502-a. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may switch to the first primary channel 502-a in examples in which the NAV 510 has a remaining duration equal to the switching duration of the AP 102-a or the STA 104-a.

[0089] In some aspects, conditions under which the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may consider the first primary channel 502-a as busy, conditions under which the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may access the second primary channel 502-b, or both may be undefined. Additionally, or alternatively, under some circumstances, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may consider the first primary channel 502-a as busy, but conditions under which the second primary channel 502-b is accessible may not be satisfied. That is, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may identify the first primary channel 502-a as busy but remain on the first primary channel 502-a and be unable to communicate due to an access restriction of the second primary channel 502-b.

[0090] Additionally, or alternatively, the access procedure for the second primary channel 502-b may include (such as be preceded by) ICFs, such as a RTS and CTS, a MU-RTS and CTS, or a BSRP and BSR. In some aspects, the transmitting device, such as the AP 102-a may proceed with the access procedure after receiving a response to the ICF. In examples in which the AP 102-a does not receive the response, the AP 102-a may extend (such as double) a contention window. For example, the AP 102-a may determine that the response is not received due to a collision. However, the AP 102-a may not receive the response due to several factors (such as factors not related to a collision). In such examples, extending the contention window may be unnecessary and / or may be associated with a performance loss of a channel access procedure. For example, according to respective locations of the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may latch onto different OBSS PPDUs. As an example, the AP 102-a may latch onto the OBSS PPDU 504 and switch to the second primary channel 502-b, while the STA 104-a may not latch onto the OBSS PPDU 504 or latch onto a different OBSS PPDU.

[0091] In some aspects, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may maintain EDCA parameters and / or aNAV for the second primary' channel 502-b (such as different than EDCA parameters and / or a NAV for the first primary channel 502-a). However, an architecture of the AP 102-a and / or of the STA 104-a may not support maintaining the separate EDCA parameters and / or the NAV for the second primary channel 502-b. The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may exchange EDCA information and / or NAV information whether the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a maintain different or same EDCA parameters and / or NAVs for the second primary channel 502-b.

[0092] The AP 102-a may indicate policies or rules associated with determining whether the first primary' channel 502-a is busy and policies or rules associated with accessing the second primary' channel 502-b. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate the policies or rules via indications in frames on a semi-static or dynamic basis to one or more associated STAs, such as the STA 104-a, the STA 104-b, or the STA 104-c. As an example, the AP 102-a may update the policies or rules on the semi-static or dynamic basis according to a topology' or a makeup of the wireless communication system 500. In other words, as wireless communication devices enter or leave the wireless communication system 500 or as other parameters of the wireless communication system 500 change, the AP 102-a may' update the policies and rules.

[0093] The policy for determining whether the first primary' channel 502-a is busy and / or whether the second primary' channel 502-b may be accessed may include information related to a CCA. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a preamble detection threshold and / or an energy detection threshold. That is. the AP 102-a and / or the associated STAs, including the STA 104-a, may consider the first primary channel 502-a as busy and the second primary' channel 502-b as accessible in examples in which the preamble detection threshold and / or the energy detection threshold are met. For example, the STA 104-a may count down an RBO and initiate a transmission on the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the OBSS PPDU 504 is received on the first primary' channel 502-a at a preamble detection level and / or an energy' detection level exceeding the preamble detection threshold and / or the energy detection threshold, respectively. The STA 104-a may refrain from counting down the RBO in examples in which the preamble detection level and / or the energy detection level do not exceed the respective thresholds. As an example, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is to apply a preamble detection threshold of -72 dBm and / or an energy' detection threshold of -62 dBm on the first primary channel 502-a. As another example, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is to apply a preamble detection threshold of -82 dBm and / or an energy' detection threshold of -72 dBm on the first primary' channel 502-a.

[0094] In some aspects, the policy for determining whether the first primary' channel 502-a is busy and / or whether the second primary' channel 502-b may be accessed may include information related to the OBSS PPDU 504. For example, the AP 102-a mayspecify one or more conditions under which the second primary channel 502-b may be considered as accessible (or under which the first primary' channel 502-a may be considered busy). The one or more conditions may include a PPDU type, puncturing pattern. MCS value, number of spatial streams (NSS). a bandwidth, or among other examples. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a threshold bandwidth. The STA 104-a may determine that the second primary channel 502-b is inaccessible (such as unusable) based on a bandwidth of the OBSS PPDU 504 exceeding the threshold bandwidth. As an example, the AP 102-a may indicate a threshold bandwidth of 40 MHz such that the STA 104-a may access the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the bandwidth of the OBSS PPDU 504 is less than or equal to 40 MHz, but not access the second primary channel 502-b or refrain from switching to the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the bandwidth is greater than 40 MHz.

[0095] Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate a threshold MCS value. As an example, in examples in which the AP 102-a specifies the threshold MCS value as MCS 5, the STA 104-a may access the second primary' channel 502-b in examples in which the MCS level of the OBSS PPDU 504 is less than or equal to MCS 5. Otherwise, the STA 104-a may remain on the first primary channel 502-a.

[0096] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate one or more PPDU types (such as a list of PPDU types) under which the second primary channel 502-b may be accessed. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate that the second primary' channel 502-b is accessible for PPDU types including a non-high throughput, high throughput, and very high throughput (VHT) PPDUs. That is. the STA 104-a may not access the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the PPDU type of the OBSS PPDU 504 is a high efficiency, EHT, or ultra-high reliability PPDU. In other words, the AP 102- or the STA 104-a may access the second primary' channel 502-b in examples in which the OBSS PPDU 504 is associated with a PPDU type of the one or more PPDU types.

[0097] The policy for accessing the second primary channel 502-b, after determining that the first primary channel 502-a is busy, may include a threshold quantify of control frame transmissions. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a quantity of control frames, such as ICFs, that may be transmitted on the second primarychannel to initiate a transmission opportunity. That is, the AP 102-a or the associated STAs may refrain from transmitting control frames after transmitting the threshold quantity (such as regardless of whether a response to the control frames has been received).

[0098] Additionally, or alternatively, the policy for accessing the second primary channel 502-b may include one or more EDCA parameters. For example, the AP 102-a may announce an EDCA parameter set for the second primary channel 502-b. The EDCA parameter set for the second primary channel 502-b may be different than an EDCA parameter set for the first primary channel 502-a. The EDCA parameter set may include one or more contention window thresholds (such as minimum and maximum thresholds), an arbitration inter-frame spacing (AIFS), and / or a transmission opportunity threshold. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate EDCA parameter sets corresponding to access categories. That is, each access category may be associated with a different EDCA parameter set. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate a portion of the EDCA parameter set and / or separately indicate portions of the EDCA parameter set. As an example, the AP 102-a may indicate a same AIFS for the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b and different contention window thresholds and / or transmission opportunity thresholds for the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b.

[0099] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate how to update an RBO and / or contention window. For example, the AP 102-a may instruct, via the indications, the associated STAs to maintain an RBO and / or contention window or to select a new RBO and / or contention window over multiple transmission opportunities in the second primary channel 502-b. In some aspects, in examples in which the STA 104-a is to select a new RBO, the AP 102-a may indicate a corresponding contention window. That is, the AP 102-a may indicate a contention window' to be used across multiple transmission opportunities and indicate that the STA 104-a is to select a new RBO. The selection of the new RBO may be described in further detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 8.

[0100] Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate whether the associated STAs are to extend (such as double) a contention window in examples in which a control frame transmission fails. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate thatthe STA 104-a is to double the contention window in examples in which an ICF transmission fails.

[0101] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may provide instructions associated with what the associated STAs may do, for example, in examples in which an RBO associated with the second primary channel 502-b counts down in examples in which the first primary channel 502-a is idle. That is, the AP 102-a may provide one or more instructions to be used in examples in which the STA 104-a is contending for the second primary channel 502-b in examples in which the first primary channel 502-a becomes available. In some examples, the instructions may be used by a wireless communication device having a capability to perform parallel monitoring. That is, the wireless communication device performing parallel monitoring may have a capability of identifying the first primary channel 502-a as available while contending for the second primary channel 502-b. The instructions may indicate that the STA 104-a is to select a new RBO, use a threshold contention window (such as a minimum contention window), and continue a countdown: that the STA 104-a is to select a new RBO, use an existing contention window, and continue a countdown; that the STA 104-a is to transmit on the second primary channel 502-b and the first primary channel 502-a; or that the STA 104-a is to transmit on the second primary channel 502-b.

[0102] In some aspects, the policy for accessing the second primary channel 502-b may include CCA information. For example, the policy may indicate whether the associated STAs are to maintain aNAV across transmission opportunities in the second primary channel 502-b. As an example, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is not (or not required) to maintain a NAV across transmission opportunities in the second primary channel 502-b. Continuation of the NAV and discontinuation of the NAV across transmission opportunities may be described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 7.

[0103] In some aspects, the policy may indicate an energy' detection threshold and / or a preamble detection threshold to be applied to the second primary channel 502-b.

[0104] As an example, the AP 102-a may set the energy' detection threshold to a large value (such as 0 dBm) such that an energy' detection check on the first primarychannel 502-a is disabled. Tn other words, the AP 102-a may set the energy detection threshold such that the energy detection level of the OBSS PPDU 504 may not exceed the threshold, and the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may not determine that the second primary channel 502-b is busy according to the energy’ detection threshold. That is, the AP 102-a may set the energy detection threshold such that the AP 102-a and the associated STAs may switch (such as only switch) according to the preamble detection threshold. For example, the AP 102-a may disable energy' detection-based switching to the second primary channel 502-b in accordance with the energy detection threshold not indicating the NAV 510. That is, the associated STAs, including the STA 104-a. may not receive (such as not know or be unaware of) a duration of an OBSS transmission opportunity.

[0105] Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may set the preamble detection threshold to the large value (such as 0 dBm) such that a preamble detection check on the first primary channel 502-a is disabled. That is. the AP 102-a may set the preamble detection threshold such that the AP 102-a and the associated STAs may switch according to the energy' detection threshold.

[0106] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate multiple sets of energy’ detection thresholds and preamble detection thresholds for the second primary channel 502-b. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a first set of energy detection thresholds and preamble detection thresholds (such as a first pair of thresholds including a first energy’ detection threshold and a first preamble detection threshold) to be used in examples in which the first primary channel 502-a is idle and a second set of energy detection thresholds and preamble detection thresholds (such as a second pair of thresholds including a second energy detection threshold and a second preamble detection threshold) to be used in examples in which the first primary’ channel 502-a is busy.

[0107] Additionally, or alternatively, the policy may include a switch type to be applied for switching from the first primary channel 502-a to the second primary channel 502-b and / or for switching back to the first primary channel 502-a from the second primary’ channel 502-b. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate whether the STA 104-a is to apply a NAV-based switch or a PPDU length-based switch. In some aspects, a STA advertising the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary’ channel 502-a, such as the STA 104-b, may terminate a transmission opportunity via a control frame(such as a CF-end frame). In such examples, termination of the transmission opportunity may be associated with issues related to a synchronization of the medium on the first primary channel 502-a. Accordingly , the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is to use a PPDU length-based switch. That is, a duration of a transmission opportunity’ on the second primary channel 502-b may be associated with (such as limited to) a PPDU length of the OBSS PPDU 504 rather than the NAV 510.

[0108] Additionally, or alternatively, the STA advertising the OBSS PPDU 504 on the first primary channel 502-a may not terminate the transmission opportunity via the control frames. Accordingly, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is to use the NAV-based switch. In some aspects, the NAV-based switch may be associated with larger NPCA gains compared to the PPDU length-based switch in accordance with the NAV duration being larger than the PPDU duration (such as in time). However, in examples in which the NAV-based switch is associated with performance loss due to the issues related to synchronization of the medium, the NPCA gains may be minimized. In such examples, the PPDU length-based switch may be associated with a higher performance level than the NAV-based switch.

[0109] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate a policy for the associated STAs while the AP 102-a may apply a different policy. That is, the AP 102-a may configure or indicate a first policy for the associated STAs and apply a second policy at the AP 102-a. As an example, the AP 102-a may use a higher MCS threshold than indicated to the STA 104-a. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate different policies for different associated STAs. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a first policy to the STA 104-a and a second policy to the STA 104-c. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may apply different policies to different communication links. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may be examples of MLDs such that the AP 102-a may configure different policies for each of multiple links of the MLDs.

[0110] The AP 102-a may indicate the policies via one or more frames. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate the policies via broadcast management frames (such as beacons or probe response frames) in examples in which a same policy applies to more than one (such as all) of the associated STAs. In some other examples, the AP 102-a may indicate the policies via association or reassociation response frames unicastto each associated STA in examples in which different policies are applied to different associated STAs. Or the AP 102-a may indicate the policies via a control field (such as an A-Control field) of a management, data, or action frame in examples in which different policies are applied to different associated STAs. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may advertise a first policy to the associated STAs (such as using a broadcast frame). In some aspects, the AP 102-a may also advertise a second policy to an associated STA, such as the STA 104-a (such as using a unicast frame). For example, the STA 104-a may follow the second policy while the other associated STAs may follow the first policy. The AP 102-a may determine the first policy and / or the second policy according to characteristics of the associated STAs. As an example, if the STA 104-a has low latency traffic, the AP 102-a may, as an example, set an ICF transmission threshold in the second policy higher than an ICF transmission threshold in the first policy.

[0111] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may trigger an update mechanism (such as a critical update mechanism, including incrementing the BSS parameters change count (BPSS) associated with a corresponding communication link) to indicate to the associated STAs that the policy has changed. The associated STAs, such as the STA 104-a, may send a frame to the AP 102-a (such as a probe request frame and / or an action frame) requesting (such as soliciting) a latest policy of the AP 102-a. For example, the STA 104-a may send the frame in response to the AP 102-a triggering the update mechanism. In some other examples, the STA 104-a may send the frame requesting the latest policy based on an unsuccessful transmission on the second primary channel 502-b. In some aspects, if the STA 104-a has received a unicast policy, then the updated policy may not apply to the STA 104-a. For example, the AP 102-a may update the policy via a broadcast frame to the associated STAs, and the STAs following the broadcast policy may apply the updated policy accordingly. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a and the associated STAs may negotiate a policy.

[0112] The AP 102-a may change a policy, overriding (such as replacing) a previously indicated policy. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a second policy at a second point in time after indicating a first policy at a first point in time, and a most recently indicated policy may be applied. In some aspects, the AP 102-a and / or the associated STAs 104 may use a default (such as a preconfigured) policy. That is, inexamples in which the AP 102-a does not indicate (such as via signaling or explicitly) the policy, the AP 102-a and / or the associated STAs 104 may use the default policy.

[0113] In some aspects, in examples in which the AP 102-a does not indicate the policy, the associated STAs 104 may determine (such as select) the policy. For example, the associated STAs 104 may determine a policy (such as parameters under which the associated STAs 104 may switch to the second primary channel 502-b). In some examples, the policy may include a list of OBSSs. That is, the associated STAs 104 may determine a list of OBSSs (such as in accordance with determining the policy). Detection of an OBSS of the list of OBSSs on the first primary channel 502-a may cause the associated STAs 104 to switch to the second primary channel 502-b.

[0114] In some examples, the AP 102-a may determine the policy according to a capability of the associated STA. For example, the AP 102-a may determine a first policy for the STA 104-a and a second policy for the STA 104-c in accordance with respective capabilities of the STA 104-a and the STA 104-c. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may implement or indicate different policies according to a device type or hardware of a device. For example, the AP 102-a may select a policy for the STA 104-a in accordance with the STA 104-a having no additional hardware, a preamble detector, or a packet decoder. The AP 102-a may refrain from selecting policies that the STA 104-a may be unable to support based on a capability and / or hardware of the STA 104-a. As an example, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-a is to maintain a NAV, RBO, and / or a contention window across transmission opportunities in the second primary channel 502-b in accordance with the STA 104-a having a packet decoder. Alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate that the STA 104-c is to select a new NAV, RBO, and / or a contention window across transmission opportunities in the second primary channel 502-b in accordance with the STA 104-c having no additional hardware or a preamble detector (such as not having a packet decoder). As another example, the AP 102-a may indicate a first MCS level threshold, such as MCS 5. to the STA 104-a and indicate a second MCS level threshold, such as MCS 3, to the STA 104-c in accordance with the respective capabilities of each STA. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate a first energy' detection threshold, such as -62 dBm, for the STA 104-a and a second energy detection threshold, such as -72 dBm, for the STA 104-c in accordance with the capabilities of each STA. Capabilities associatedwith hardware of wireless communication devices may be described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 6.

[0115] In some aspects, the wireless communication system 500 may support more than one second primary channel. For example, while the second primary' channel 502-b is illustrated with respect to Figure 5, the APs 102 and / or the STAs 104 may communicate via the second primary channel 502-b and additional second primary channels. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may determine whether the additional second primary channels are busy according to a same policy as the second primary’ channel 502-b or a different policy than the second primary’ channel 502-b. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may access the additional second primary channels via access procedures which are the same as or different than access procedures for the second primary’ channel 502-b.

[0116] Figure 6 shows an example of wireless communication on a first primary channel 602-a and on a second primary channel 602-b that supports non-primary channel access control. Figure 6 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, or any combination thereof. For example, Figure 6 illustrates communication between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, which may be examples of the AP 102 or the STA 104, respectively, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 5. Additionally, or alternatively, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may communicate on the first primary channel 602-a and the second primary channel 602-b, which may be examples of the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502-b as described with reference to Figure 5.

[0117] A wireless communication device, such as an AP or a STA, may use the second primary’ channel 602-b when, for example, the first primary’ channel 602-a is busy. For example, the wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel 602-a and the second primary channel 602-b in sequentially or in parallel. The wireless communication device may initiate one or more RBOs, such as an RBO 604-a, an RBO 604-b, and / or an RBO 604-c in accordance with a monitoring type. Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device may be associated with capabilities in accordance with hardware of the wireless communication device.For example, an AP and / or a STA, such as the APs 102 and STAs 104 as described with reference to Figures 1 and 5, may have a quantity of radios. The monitoring type may be in accordance with the quantity of radios.

[0118] For example, a first wireless communication device, which may be an example of an AP or a STA, may perform sequential monitoring in accordance with an associated capability. That is, the first wireless communication device may be capable of monitoring a single channel at a time due to having a single radio. Accordingly, the first wireless communication device may monitor the first primary' channel 602-a and, in examples in which the first primary channel 602-a is busy, switch to and subsequently monitor the second primary channel 602-b. For example, the first wireless communication device may count down the RBO 604-a on the first primary channel 602-a. During the RBO 604-a, the first wireless communication device may detect an OBSS PPDU 606-a. The first wireless communication device, according to a policy, may determine that the first primary channel 602-a is busy. That is, the first wireless communication device may determine a status of the first primary' channel 602-a according to the policy, which may be described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including w ith reference to Figure 5.

[0119] After determining that the first primary’ channel 602-a is busy, the first wireless communication device may switch to the second primary channel 602-b. In some aspects, the switch may be associated with a switch delay, such as a duration of time between when the first wireless communication device identifies (such as determines) that the first primary' channel 602-a is busy and w hen the first wireless communication device arrives on the second primary channel 602-b. The first wireless communication device may initiate the RBO 604-c after switching to the second primary' channel 602-b. For example, the RBO 604-c may occur after the RBO 604-a.

[0120] A second wireless communication device, which may be an example of an AP or a STA, may perform parallel monitoring in accordance with an associated capability. That is. the second wireless communication device may be capable of monitoring more than one channel at a time due to having one or more components in addition to a single radio. For example, the second wireless communication device may have hardware in addition to the single radio, such as a second radio, an auxiliary radio, an STF detector, and / or an energy detector. Accordingly, the second wirelesscommunication device may monitor the first primary channel 602-a and the second primary channel 602-b simultaneously. For example, the second wireless communication device may initiate the RBO 604-a and the RBO 604-b simultaneously on the first primary channel 602-a and the second primary channel 602-b, respectively. The second wireless communication device may detect the OBSS PPDU 606-a on the first primary channel 602-a during the RBO 604-a and continue the RBO 604-b.

[0121] After detecting the OBSS PPDU 606-a and after an expiration of the RBO 604-b, the second wireless communication device may initiate the RBO 604-c on the second primary channel 602-b. For example, the second wireless communication device may determine that the first primary channel 602-a is busy (such as according to the policy) and refrain from initiating a subsequent RBO to the RBO 604-a on the first primary channel 602-a.

[0122] The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may receive indications of different policies based on having different capabilities. For example, policies for the first wireless communication device may be associated with a sequential monitoring capability while policies for the second wireless communication device may be associated with a parallel monitoring capability.

[0123] The first wireless communication device and / or the second wireless communication device may gain access to the second primary channel 602-b after the RBO 604-c. Accordingly, the wireless communication devices may exchange one or more control frames, such as a control frame 608-a and / or a control frame 608-b. The control frame 608-a and the control frame 608-b may be examples of the first control frame 506-a and the second control frame 506-b as described with reference to Figure 5. The wireless communication devices may transmit the control frame 608-a, which may be an example of an ICF, and receive, in response to the control frame 608-a, the control frame 608-b. After exchanging the control frame 608-a and / or the control frame 608-b, the wireless communication devices may communicate via the second primary channel 602-b. For example, the first wireless communication device and / or the second wireless communication device may transmit or receive a BSS PPDU 612 (such as one or more BSS PPDUs). After exchanging the BSS PPDU 612, the wireless communication devices may exchange feedback 614. For example, in examples in which the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communicationdevice received the BSS PPDU 612, the wireless communication devices may transmit the feedback 614 in response to receiving the BSS PPDU 612. Or, in examples in which the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device transmitted the BSS PPDU 612, the wireless communication devices may receive the feedback 614 in response to transmitting the BSS PPDU 612.

[0124] In some aspects, the first wireless communication device and / or the second wireless communication device may return to or begin communicating on the first primary channel 602-a after the duration of a NAV 610. For example, the duration of the NAV 610 may correspond to one or more OBSS PPDUs occurring after the OBSS PPDU 606-a detected by the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, including an OBSS PPDU 606-b, an OBSS PPDU 606-c, and / or an OBSS PPDU 606-d.

[0125] According to the capabilities of the first wireless communication device and / or the second wireless communication device, the feedback 614 may be transmitted or received to allow time for a switching delay. That is, for the first wireless communication device, which may perform sequential monitoring, there may be a switching delay between the end of the feedback 614 and the end of the NAV 610. Alternatively, for the second wireless communication device, which may perform parallel monitoring, the end of the feedback 614 may align with the end of the NAV 610 (or end before the end of the NAV 610). In other words, the second wireless communication device may not have a switching delay in associating with being capable of parallel monitoring.

[0126] Figure 7 shows an example of wireless communication on a first primary channel 702-a and on a second primary channel 702-b that supports non-primary channel access control. Figure 7 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, or any combination thereof. For example, Figure 7 illustrates communication between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, which may be examples of the AP 102 or the STA 104, respectively, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 5. Additionally, or alternatively, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may communicate on the first primary channel 702-a and thesecond primary channel 702-b, which may be examples of the first primary channel 502-a and the second primary channel 502 -b as described with reference to Figure 5 and / or the first primary channel 602-a and the second primary channel 602-b as described with reference to Figure 6.

[0127] A wireless communication device, such as an AP or a STA, may use the second primary channel 702-b when, for example, the first primary channel 702-a is busy. For example, the wireless communication device may determine that the first primary' channel 702-a is busy and that the second primary' channel 702-b is available according to one or more conditions or a policy. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the policy or receive an indication of the policy. In examples in which the wireless communication device determines the policy , determining the policy may include determining a list of OBSSs. For example, the wireless communication device may determine a list of OBSSs that, when detected on the first primary channel 702-a, indicate that the wireless communication device is to switch from the first primary channel 702-a to the second primary' channel 702-b. In examples in which the wireless communication device determines that the first primary' channel 702-a is busy and that the second primary channel 702-b is available, the wireless communication device may access the second primary channel 702-b in accordance with an access procedure. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the access procedure or receive an indication of the access procedure.

[0128] As an example, the wireless communication device may detect an OBSS PPDU, such as an OBSS PPDU 706-a or an OBSS PPDU 706-b on the first primary channel 702-a. In some aspects. OBSS PPDUs 706 may be examples of the OBSS PPDU 504 or the OBSS PPDUs 606 as described with reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6. The wireless communication device may determine that the first primary channel 702-a is busy after detecting the OBSS PPDU 706-a or the OBSS PPDU 706-b and switch to the second primary channel 702-b. As described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 6, the wireless communication device may monitor the first primary' channel 702-a and the second primary' channel 702-b simultaneously (such as in parallel) and may continue monitoring the second primary' channel 702-b without monitoring the first primary channel 702-a after detecting the OBSS PPDU 706-a or the OBSS PPDU 706-b. Or the wireless communication devicemay monitor the first primary channel 702-a and the second primary channel 702-b in parallel (such as monitor a channel at a time) and may switch to the second primary channel 702-b over a switching delay after detecting the OBSS PPDU 706-a or the OBSS PPDU 706-b.

[0129] The wireless communication device may count down an RBO 704-a or an RBO 704-b on the second primary channel 702-b. While counting down the RBO 704-a or the RBO 704-b, an OBSS PPDU 706-c or an OBSS PPDU 706-d may occupy the second primary channel 702-b. In other words, the second primary channel 702-b may become unavailable. The wireless communication device may, in some aspects, store a duration of a NAV 708-a associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-c. For example, the wireless communication device may store the duration of the NAV 708-a associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-c or refrain from storing the duration of a NAV 708-b associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-d in accordance with one or more conditions or an access policy (such as including the policies described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 5).

[0130] If the w ireless communication device determines that the second primary channel 702-b is unavailable (such as according to one or more conditions or a policy, including the policies as described with reference to Figure 5), the wireless communication device may switch back to the first primary channel 702-a. After switching back to the first primary channel 702-a the wireless communication device may detect an OBSS PPDU 706-e or an OBSS PPDU 706-f. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may determine that the first primary' channel 702-a is busy in accordance with detecting the OBSS PPDU 706-e or the OBSS PPDU 706-f. In examples in which the wireless communication device stored the duration of the NAV 708-a and the detected OBSS PPDU 706-e and in examples in which the OBSS PPDU 706-f overlaps with the duration of the NAV 708-a, the wireless communication device may refrain from contenting for the second primary channel 702-b until the end of the NAV 708-a. In other words, the w ireless communication device may determine that the second primary' channel 702-b is unavailable and refrain from switching to or contending for the second primary' channel 702-b in accordance w ith the stored duration of the NAV 708-a associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-c. For example, the wirelesscommunication device may count own an RBO 704-c and / or transmit messages, such as a BSS PPDU 710-a, after the duration of the NAV 708-a is complete.

[0131] Alternatively, in examples in which the wireless communication device did not store the duration of the NAV 708-b associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-d, the wireless communication device may switch to and contend for access to the second primary channel 702-b. That is, the wireless communication device may consider the second primary' channel 702-b to be available (such as in accordance with being unaware of the duration of the NAV 708-b associated with the OBSS PPDU 706-d. For example, the wireless communication device may count down an RBO 704-d and / or transmit messages, such as a BSS PPDU 710-b, after the detecting the OBSS PPDU 706-f (such as regardless of whether the duration of the NAV 708-b has elapsed).

[0132] Figure 8 show s an example of wireless communication on a first primary channel 802-a and on a second primary' channel 802-b that supports non-primary channel access control. Figure 8 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, or any combination thereof. For example, Figure 8 illustrates communication between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, which may be examples of the AP 102 or the STA 104, respectively, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 5. Additionally, or alternatively, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may communicate on the first primary' channel 802-a and the second primary channel 802-b, which may be examples of the first primary channel and the second primary channel as described with reference to Figures 5-7.

[0133] A wireless communication device, such as an AP or a STA. may use the second primary' channel 802-b when, for example, the first primary channel 802-a is busy. For example, the wireless communication device may determine that the first primary' channel 802-a is busy and that the second primary' channel 802-b is available according to one or more conditions or a policy. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the policy or receive an indication of the policy. In examples in which the wireless communication device determines the policy , the policy may include a list of OBSSs. That is, the wireless communication device may, as a part of determining the policy, determine a list of OBSSs. Detection of an OBSS ofthe list of OBSSs on the first primary channel 802-a may cause the wireless communication device to switch to the second primary channel 802-b.In examples in which the wireless communication device determines that the first primary channel 802-a is busy and that the second primary channel 802-b is available, the wireless communication device may access the second primary channel 802-b in accordance with an access procedure. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the access procedure or receive an indication of the access procedure.

[0134] As an example, the wireless communication device may detect an OBSS PPDU, such as an OBSS PPDU 806-a on the first primary channel 802-a. In some aspects, OBSS PPDUs 806 may be examples of the OBSS PPDU 504, the OBSS PPDUs 606, or the OBSS PPDUs 706 as described with reference to Figures 5-7. The wireless communication device may determine that the first primary channel 802-a is busy after detecting the OBSS PPDU 806-a and switch to the second primary channel 802-b. As described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 6, the wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel 802-a and the second primary channel 802-b simultaneously (such as in parallel) and may continue monitoring the second primary channel 802-b without monitoring the first primary channel 802-a after detecting the OBSS PPDU 806-a. Or the wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel 802-a and the second primary channel 802-b in parallel (such as monitor a channel at a time) and may switch to the second primary' channel 802-b over a switching delay after detecting the OBSS PPDU 806-a.

[0135] The wireless communication device may count down an RBO 804-a on the second primary’ channel 802-b during a first opportunity 808-a on the second primary' channel 802-b. For example, the wireless communication device may count down on the RBO 804-a during a contention window. While counting down the RBO 804-a, an OBSS PPDU 806-b may occupy the second primary channel 802-b. In other words, the second primary channel 802-b may become unavailable while at least a portion of the RBO 804-a remains. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may’ store the remaining portion of the RBO 804-a such that at a second opportunity’ 808-b for the second primary channel, the wireless communication device may continue the RBO 804-a (such as the remaining RBO). Alternatively, the wireless communication devicemay not store or maintain the remaining portion of the RBO 804-a. In other words, the wireless communication device may start a new RBO (such as without regard to the remainder of the prior RBO).

[0136] For example, the wireless communication device may switch to the first primary channel 802-a from the second primary channel 802-b after detecting the OBSS PPDU 806-b on the second primary channel 802-b or after the NAV ends. While monitoring the first primary channel 802-a, the wireless communication device may detect an OBSS PPDU 806-c on the first primary' channel. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may switch to the second primary channel 802-b based on identifying the OBSS PPDU 806-c. That is, the wireless communication device may switch to the second primary' channel 802-b in accordance with whether one or more conditions or policies are satisfied (such as the conditions or policies described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 5).

[0137] If the wireless communication device stored the remainder of the RBO 804-a for the first opportunity 808-a, the wireless communication device may continue the RBO. That is, an RBO 804-b may represent the remainder of the RBO 804-a after the OBSS PPDU 806-b in accordance with a policy adhered to by the wireless communication device. Alternatively, in examples in which the wireless communication device did not store the remainder of the RBO 804-a for the first opportunity 808-a, the wireless communication device may start a new RBO. That is, the RBO 804-b may represent a new RBO (such as separate or different than the RBO 804-a). The wireless communication device may select the new RBO in accordance with the contention window. For example, the wireless communication device may select the new RBO such that the duration of the RBO is shorter than or equal to a duration of the contention window.

[0138] In some aspects, the wireless communication device may continue the remainder of the RBO 804-a during the second opportunity 808-b or start the new RBO in accordance with a policy. As an example, an AP (such as an AP 102 as described with reference to Figures 1 and 5) may determine a policy or conditions for accessing the second primary' channel 802-b. The policy or conditions may include an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to maintain the remainder of the RBO 804-a or start the new RBO.

[0139] After counting down the RBO 804-b, whether according to the remainder of the RBO 804-a or a new RBO, the wireless communication device may transmit a BSS PPDU 812. For example, the wireless communication device may gain access to the medium of the second primary channel 802 -b after the RBO 804-b and transmit the BSS PPDU 812 via the second primary channel 802-b.

[0140] While the first opportunity 808-a and the second opportunity 808-b are illustrated in the example of Figure 5, the wireless communication device may maintain or discontinue RBOs and / or contention windows for more than tw o opportunities in the second primary channel 802-b. Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device may maintain or discontinue RBOs and / or contention windows in the first primary channel 802-a.

[0141] Figure 9 shows an example of a process flow 900 that supports non-primary channel access control. The process flow may implement, or be implemented by, one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, or a combination thereof. For example, the process flow 900 illustrates communication between an AP 102 and a STA 104, which may be examples of corresponding devices described with reference to Figures 1-4.

[0142] In the following description of the process flow 900, the operations may be performed (such as reported or provided) in a different order than the order shown, or the operations performed by the example devices may be performed in different orders or at different times. For example, specific operations also may be left out of the process flow7900, or other operations may be added to the process flow 900. Further, although some operations or signaling may be shown to occur at different times for discussion purposes, these operations may actually occur at the same time.

[0143] At 902, the AP 102 and the STA 104 may establish a wireless communication link. In some aspects, the AP 102 and / or the STA 104 may establish multiple wireless communication links. As an example, the AP 102 may be an example of a MLD and, as such, the AP 102 may establish multiple wireless communication links with various STAs 104. The AP 102 may indicate a policy for a first wireless communication link of the multiple wireless communication links on the first wireless communication link or on a different wireless communication link, such as a secondwireless communication link. For example, the AP 102 may indicate the policy on a same link when transmitting indications to STAs, including the STA 104, in beacons. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102 may indicate the policy on different links when the policy is transmitted on the first wireless communication link during association on the second wireless communication link.

[0144] At 904, the AP 102 may transmit one or more indications to the STA 104. For example, the AP 102 may transmit the one or more indications of one or more conditions associated with an availability of a first primary channel, such as the first primary’ channel 502-a, 602-a, 702-a, or 802-a as described with reference to Figures 5- 8. Additionally, the AP 102 may transmit the one or more indications of an access procedure associated with a second primary channel, such as the second primary channel 502-b, 602-b, 702-b, or 802-b as described with reference to Figures 5-8. In some aspects, the one or more conditions and / or the access procedure may be in accordance with a capability of the STA 104. For example, the AP 102 may determine the one or more conditions and / or the access procedure according to the capability of the STA 104 (such as a capability’ to perform sequential or parallel monitoring as described with reference to Figure 6). The AP 102 may transmit the one or more indications via a broadcast management frame, an association or reassociation response frame, a control field in a management frame or a data frame, and / or an action frame.

[0145] In some aspects, the AP 102 may transmit multiple sets of indications to multiple wireless communication devices. For example, the AP 102 may transmit one or more first indications to the STA 104 and one or more second indications to a different STA associated with the AP 102. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102 may transmit different indications associated with each link of the MLD. That is, in examples in which the AP 102 is a MLD, the AP 102 may indicate respective conditions or access procedures for each link of the MLD.

[0146] For example, the one or more conditions may include a CCA threshold associated with a preamble detection threshold and / or an energy’ detection threshold. As an example, the AP 102 and / or the STA 104 may determine that the first primary channel is unavailable or that the second primary channel is accessible based on comparing a preamble detection and / or an energy detection of an OBSS transmission on the first primary channel to the thresholds. Additionally, or alternatively, the one ormore conditions may include a PPDU type, an MCS value, aNSS, and / or a bandwidth associated with the OBSS transmission.

[0147] In some aspects, the access procedure may include an RBO parameter and / or a contention window parameter. For example, the AP 102 may indicate that the RBO parameter and / or the contention window parameter are to be used across one or more transmission opportunities on the second primary channel, such as the first opportunity 808-a and the second opportunity 808-b as described with reference to Figure 8.

[0148] Additionally, or alternatively, the access procedure may include instructions for the STA 104 according to an idle status of the first primary channel. For example, the instructions may include that the STA 104 is to determine an RBO and / or a contention window or that the STA 104 is to transmit a message on the second primary channel or on both the first primary channel and the second primary channel.

[0149] In some aspects, the access procedure may include maintaining a NAV across one or more transmission opportunities in the second primary channel. For example, the AP 102 and / or the STA 104 may maintain the NAV or refrain from maintaining the NAV in accordance with the access procedure. Maintenance of the NAV may be described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 7.

[0150] Additionally, or alternatively, the access procedure may include one or more CCA thresholds, such as a preamble detection threshold or an energy detection threshold, for the second primary channel. For example, the AP 102 and / or the STA 104 may compare a preamble detection and / or an energy detection of an OBSS transmission on the second primary channel to the thresholds to determine whether the second primary channel is busy. In some aspects, the access procedure may include a first CCA threshold associated with an idle state of the first primary channel and / or a second CCA threshold associated with a busy state of the first primary channel. For example, the first CCA threshold may include a first preamble detection threshold and a first energy detection threshold while the second CCA threshold may include a second preamble detection threshold and a second energy detection threshold.

[0151] In some aspects, the access procedure may include instructions for the STA 104 to perform aNAV-based switch or a PPDU length-based switch from the firstprimary channel to the second primary channel. In other words, the access procedure may include a switch type to be used by the AP 102 and / or the STA 104.

[0152] At 906, the AP 102 may monitor the first primary channel. For example, the AP 102 may monitor the first primary channel to determine whether the first primary channel is available in accordance with the one or more conditions indicated at 904. As an example, the AP 102 may monitor the first primary channel for an OBSS transmission, such as the OBSS PPDU 504, 606, 706, or 806 as described with reference to Figures 5-8.

[0153] At 908, the AP 102 may determine an availability of the first primary channel. For example, the AP 102 may determine the availability in accordance with the monitoring at 906 and in accordance with the one or more conditions. In some aspects, the AP 102 may determine the availability according to one or more conditions which are the same as or different than one or more conditions used by the STA 104. In other words, the AP 102 may indicate the one or more conditions to be used by the STA 104 at 904 but use different conditions to determine availability at the AP 102. In some aspects, the AP 102 may determine that the first primary channel is unavailable in accordance with the one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0154] At 910, the STA 104 may monitor the first primary channel. For example, the STA 104 may monitor the first primary channel to determine whether the first primary channel is available in accordance with the one or more conditions indicated at 904. As an example, the STA 104 may monitor the first primary channel for an OBSS transmission, such as the OBSS PPDU 504, 606, 706, or 806 as described with reference to Figures 5-8.

[0155] At 912, the STA 104 may determine an availability of the first primary channel. For example, the STA 104 may determine the availability in accordance with the monitoring at 910 and in accordance with the one or more conditions. In some aspects, the STA 104 may determine that the first primary channel is unavailable in accordance with the one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0156] At 914, the STA 104 may transmit one or more ICFs to the AP 102. For example, the access procedure indicated at 904 may include a threshold quantity of ICFs, and the STA 104 may transmit a quantity of ICFs equal to or less than thethreshold quantity of TCFs. In other words, the STA 104 may refrain from transmitting ICFs beyond the threshold quantity. In some aspects, the STA 104 may transmit the one or more ICFs to the AP 102 in accordance with the one or more conditions associated with the availability of the first primary’ channel and / or the second primary channel being satisfied.

[0157] At 916, the STA 104 may contend for access to the second primary channel. For example, the STA 104 may contend for access to the second primary channel in accordance with the access procedure and / or in accordance with a failure of at least one of the ICFs transmitted at 914.

[0158] At 918. the AP 102 and the STA 104 may communicate via the second primary' channel. For example, the AP 102 and the STA 104 may communicate via the second primary' channel in accordance with the one or more conditions associated with the availability of the first primary channel being satisfied and in accordance with the access procedure associated with the second primary channel.

[0159] At 920. the AP 102 may transmit one or more indications to the STA 104. For example, the AP 102 may transmit one or more second indications indicating one or more second conditions and / or a second access procedure. For example, the one or more second indications, the one or more second conditions, and / or the second access procedure may be different than, and override, the one or more indications, the one or more conditions, and / or the access procedure indicated at 904.

[0160] Figure 10 shows an example of a wireless communication system 1000 that supports non-primary channel access control. The wireless communication system 1000 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, or any combination thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 1000 illustrates communication between an AP 102-a, an AP 102-b, an AP 102-c and a STA 104-a and a STA 104-b, which may be examples of the AP 102 and the STA 104 respectively, as illustrated by and described with reference to Figure 1.

[0161] The APs 102 may communicate with associated STAs 104 via a wireless communication link 1002. The wireless communication link 1002 may be associated with a first BSS and one or more channels, including a first primary' channel 1004-a anda second primary channel 1004-b. Tn some aspects, the first primary channel 1004-a may be associated with one or more first secondary channels, and the second primary' channel 1004-b may be associated with one or more second secondary' channels.

[0162] The APs 102 may communicate with associated STAs 104 over the one or more channels. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may communicate on the first primary channel 1004-a. In some aspects, the first primary channel 1004-a may be associated with a frequency range or bandwidth, such as 20 MHz. The first primary' channel 1004-a may be referred to as a primary channel, a main primary' channel (such as m-primary), and / or primary-1. In some implementations, the APs 102 and the STAs 104 may communicate on the second primary channel 1004-b. In some aspects, the second primary' channel 1004-b may7be associated with a frequency range or bandwidth, such as 20 MHz. The frequency range and / or bandwidth associated with the second primary7channel 1004-b may be the same as or different than the frequency range or bandwidth associated with the first primary channel 1 04-a. The second primary channel 1004-b may be referred to as an opportunistic channel (such as an o-primary channel), a non-primary channel access channel, an anchor channel, an auxiliary channel, temporary primary channel, a temporary channel, and / or primary-2. The second primary channel 1004-b may be a back-up or fallback channel to the first primary' channel 1004-a.

[0163] Additionally, or alternatively, the APs 102 may perform EMLSR operations. For example, the AP 102, which may be an example of an EMLSR AP, may communicate via a primary7link and nonprimary links. In some aspects, the first primary7channel 1004-a and the second primary channel 1004-b may be on different communication links. The first primary channel 1004-a may be on the first primary channel 1004-a while the second primary channel 1004-b may be on one of the nonprimary links (such as in an EMLSR operation). Alternatively, the first primary7channel 1004-a and the second primary channel 1004-b may be on a same communication link (such as in a non-primary channel operation). The APs 102 and the STAs 104 may communicate on the second primary7channel 1004-b in examples in which the first primary7channel 1004-a is unavailable (such as busy).

[0164] As an example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may contend for access to the first primary channel 1004-a. While contending for access, the AP 102-a and theSTA 104-a may detect (such as identify) an OBSS PPDU 1006 on the first primary channel 1004-a. That is, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may determine that the first primary channel 1004-a is occupied by the OBSS PPDU 1006 over an RBO 1008-a. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may be associated with the first basic service set while the AP 102-b and the STA 104-b may be associated with a second basic service set. The AP 102-b and the STA 104-b may be referred to as an OBSS AP and an OBSS STA with respect to the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a. One or more of the AP 102-b and the STA 104-b may transmit the OBSS PPDU 1006 occupying the first primary channel 1004-a.

[0165] After detecting the OBSS PPDU 1006, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may switch to the second primary' channel 1004-b. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may contend for access to the second primary' channel 1004-b after identifying the OBSS PPDU 1006 on the first primary channel 1004-a. In some aspects, contending for access to the second primary channel 1004-b may involve a countdown, such as an RBO 1008-b countdow n, and an exchange of one or more control frames (such as ICFs) including a control frame 1010-a and a control frame 1010-b. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may exchange the control frame 1010-a and the control frame 1010-b to support the access procedure for the second primary channel 1004-b. The control frame 1010-a and the control frame 1010-b may be RTS and CTS frames, MU RTS and CTS frames, BSRP and BSR frames, or among other examples.

[0166] The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may exchange messages on the second primary' channel 1004-b according to a duration indicated via a NAV 1012. In other words, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may complete an exchange of the messages on the second primary channel 1004-b before switching to (such as back to) the first primary' channel 1004-a. For example, the AP 102-a may transmit one or more PPDUs in a duration between reception of the control frame 1010-b and reception of feedback 1014 (such as an ACK or NACK message). The AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may set the NAV 1012 according to a duration field indicated via the OBSS PPDU 1006. In other words, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may refrain from switching back to the first primary' channel 1004-a from the second primary' channel 1004-b in accordance with the duration of the NAV 1012. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may switch back to the first primary channel 1004-a at or before the NAV 1012 expires.

[0167] In some aspects, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may have an asymmetric view of some OBSSs. For example, one of the AP 102-a or the STA 104-a may be unable to detect the OBSS PPDU 1006 while the other is able to detect the OBSS PPDU 1006. In some implementations, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may be unable to detect the OBSS PPDU 1006 in examples in which the OBSS is hidden to the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a or in examples in which the OBSS PPDU 1006 is received with a signal strength below a threshold. For example, in examples in which the OBSS PPDU 1006 is received by the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a with the signal strength below the threshold, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may be unable to decode the OBSS PPDU 1006. The asymmetric view of APs with respect to associated STAs may be illustrated and described in greater detail elsewhere herein, including with reference to Figure 11. In examples in which the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a have an asymmetrical view of OBSSs, one of the AP 102-a or the STA 104-a may switch to the second primary channel 1004-b while the other remains on the first primary channel 1004-a. By establishing a list of OBSSs associated with access to the second primary channel 1004-b, the AP 102-a and associated STAs, including the STA 104-a, mayremain on a same channel.

[0168] For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a list of OBSSs 1016 to the associated STAs, including the STA 104-a. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate the list of OBSSs 1016 to the STA 104-a via beacon frames, management frames, or action frames. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may indicate the list of OBSSs 1016 periodically or semi-statically. The associated STAs, in accordance with receiving the list of OBSSs 1016, may switch to the second primary channel 1004-b in examples in which a transmission from an OBSS PPDU from an OBSS of the list of OBSSs 1016 is detected. In some implementations, the list of OBSSs 1016 may be common to the associated STAs. or the AP 102-a may indicate different lists of OBSSs to respective STAs. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a first list of OBSSs to the STA 104-a and a second list of OBSSs to the STA 104-c. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may indicate different lists of OBSSs to different communication links. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may be examples of MLDs such that the AP 102-a may configure different policies for each of multiple links of the MLDs. In some implementations, the list of OBSSs 1016 may identify respective OBSSs viadifferent identification methods. For example, the list of OBSSs 1016 may include a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier (such as a BSSID), and / or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0169] The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may negotiate the list of OBSSs 1016. For example, in examples in which the STA 104-a detects an OBSS packet, such as the OBSS PPDU 1006, the STA 104-a may transmit an indication of an identifier of an OBSS associated with the OBSS packet to the AP 102-a. The STA 104-a may store identifiers of OBSSs over a duration of time and indicate a list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a over the duration to the AP 102-a. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate a duration T over which the STA 104-a may store the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a. After the duration 7, the STA 104-a may transmit the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a to the AP 102-a. In other words, the STA 104-a may periodically indicate detected OBSSs to the AP 102-a. The list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a may be referred to as “STA view.” In some implementations, the STA 104-a may indicate a signal strength associated with the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may maintain a list of OBSSs detected by the AP 102-a over a duration of time. In some aspects, the duration of time may be the same as or different than the duration of time over which the STA 104-a maintains the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a. The list of OBSSs detected by the AP 102-a may be referred to as “AP view.”

[0170] The AP 102-a may prepare (such as determine or identify) the list of OBSSs 1016 in accordance with the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a and the list of OBSSs detected by the AP 102-a. For example, the AP 102-a may include OBSSs in the list of OBSSs 1016 which are detected by the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a. In other words, the list of OBSSs 1016 may include OBSSs which are included on both the list of OBSSs detected by the STA 104-a and the list of OBSSs detected by the AP 102-a. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may include OBSSs in the list of OBSSs 1016 which have a signal strength exceeding a threshold. For example, in examples in which a signal strength of an OBSS packet received by the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a is below the threshold (such as a relatively weak signal), the AP 102-a may refrain from including an OBSS associated with the OBSS packet on the list of OBSSs 1016.

[0171] In some aspects, the AP 102-a may prepare the list of OBSSs 1016 in accordance with a traffic type and / or QoS requirements associated with the STA 104-a. For example, the traffic type associated with the STA 104-a may be associated with non-latency critical traffic. In such examples, the AP 102-a may include few or no OBSSs on the list of OBSSs 1016 for the STA 104-a in accordance with the STA 104-a having the non-latency critical traffic. In other words, the STA 104-a may have low priority traffic compared to other STAs associated with the AP 102-a, such as the STA 104-c. For example, a list of OBSSs for the STA 104-c may include a greater quantity of OBSSs than the list of OBSSs 1016 for the STA 104-a in accordance with the STA 104-c being associated with higher priority traffic (such as latency-sensitive data) than the STA 104-a. Configuring different lists of OBSSs in accordance with the traffic priority of each STA may improve communication reliability for STAs with higher priority traffic as a chance of collision on the second primary channel 1004-b may be lower. For example, the STA 104-c with the higher priority’ traffic may switch to the second primary channel 1004-b while the STA 104-a with the lower priority traffic may remain on the first primary channel 1004-a, increasing a probability that the STA 104-c may win access to the second primary channel 1004-b.

[0172] In some aspects, the wireless communication system 1000 may support more than one second primary channel. For example, while the second primary channel 1004-b is illustrated with respect to Figure 10, the APs 102 and / or the STAs 104 may communicate via the second primary channel 1004-b and additional second primary channels. For example, the AP 102-a may configure the list of OBSSs 1016 associated with access to the second primary channel 1004-b and a second, at least partially different, list of OBSSs associated with access to the additional second primary channels. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may configure the list of OBSSs 1016 associated with access to the second primary channel 1004-b the additional second primary channels. In other words, the AP 102-a may configure a same list of OBSSs associated with access to the second primary channel 1004-b and the additional second primary channels.

[0173] Figure 11 shows an example of a w ireless communication system 1100 that supports non-primary channel access control. The wireless communication system 1100 may implement or be implemented to realize one or more aspects of the wirelesscommunication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, the wireless communication system 1000, or any combination thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 1100 illustrates communication between an AP 102-a. an AP 102-b. an AP 102-c, an AP 102-d and a STA 104-a and a STA 104-b, which may be examples of the AP 102 and the STA 104 respectively, as illustrated by and described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 10.

[0174] The AP 102-a may be associated with the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b. For example, the AP 102-a may establish respective wireless communication links with the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b. The wireless communication links may be associated with a first BSS. For example, the first BSS may be detected in a coverage area 1106-a. The AP 102-a, the STA 104-a, and the STA 104-b may communicate via a first primary channel and a second primary channel, such as the first primary channel 1004-a and the second primary channel 1004-b as described with reference to Figure 10. For example, the AP 102-a, the STA 104-a, and the STA 104-b may communicate via the second primary channel in examples in which the first primary channel is occupied by a transmission, such as the OBSS PPDU 1006 as described with reference to Figure 10. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may configure the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b with respective lists of OBSSs. In examples in which the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b detect an OBSS transmission from one of the OBSSs of the lists of OBSSs, the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b may switch to the second primary channel.

[0175] The AP 102-a may configure the list of OBSSs at the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b in accordance with OBSSs detected by each STA. For example, the coverage area 1106-a of the first BSS may overlap with a second BSS having a coverage area 1106-b, a third BSS having a coverage area 1 106-c, and a fourth BSS having a coverage area 1106-d. An OBSS device 1108-b, such as an OBSS AP or an OBSS STA, may transmit packets advertising the second BSS, such as OBSS PPDUs. Additionally, or alternatively, an OBSS device 1108-c and / or an OBSS device 1108-d may transmit packets advertising the third BSS and the fourth BSS, respectively. The AP 102-a may determine the list of OBSSs including indicators of the OBSS device 1108-b, the OBSS device 1108-c, and / or the OBSS device 1108-d and indicate the list of OBSSs to the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b. In some aspects, the AP 102-a maydetermine the list of OBSSs for the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b in accordance with OBSS packets received by the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b.

[0176] As an example, the STA 104-a may receive OBSS packets associated with the second BSS and / or the third BSS. In other words, the STA 104-a may be in the coverage area 1106-b and the coverage area 1106-c of the second BSS and the third BSS, respectively, and the STA 104-a may receive the OBSS packets from the OBSS device 1108-b and the OBSS device 1108-c. In some aspects, the STA 104-a may store identifiers of the OBSS device 1108-b and / or the OBSS device 1108-c. As another example, the STA 104-b may receive OBSS packets associated with the third BSS and / or the fourth BSS. In other words, the STA 104-b may be in the coverage area 1106-c and the coverage area 1106-b of the third BSS and the fourth BSS, respectively, and the STA 104-b may receive the OBSS packets from the OBSS device 1108-c and the OBSS device 1108-d.

[0177] The STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b may indicate the OBSSs received and / or the associated signal strengths of each OBSS at the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b to the AP 102-a. The AP 102-a may determine respective lists of OBSSs for the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b in accordance with the indicated OBSSs. In some implementations, the AP 102-a may include the OBSSs received by the AP 102-a, the STA 104-a, and the STA 104-b. For example, the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-c on the list of OBSSs. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may include the OBSSs received by the AP 102-a and the respective STA. In the example of the STA 104-a. the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-c, and, in the example of the STA 104-b, the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-c and the OBSS device 1108-d. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may include the OBSSs received by the respective STA. In the example of the STA 104-a, the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-b and the OBSS device 1108-c, and, in the example of the STA 104-b, the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-c and the OBSS device 1108-d.

[0178] In some implementations, the AP 102-a may determine the list of OBSSs in accordance with a traffic type or QoS requirement at the respective STA. For example, in examples in which the STA 104-a is associated with latency-sensitive traffic, the AP 102-a may include the OBSS device 1108-b, the OBSS device 1108-c, and the OBSS device 1108-d on the list of OBSSs while including no OBSSs on the list of OBSSs forthe STA 104-b. In other words, the AP 102-a may configure the list of OBSSs for wireless communication devices associated with latency-sensitive traffic (such as XR or gaming) to include a quantity' of OBSSs larger than a quantity of OBSSs in a list of OBSSs for wireless communication devices not having latency-sensitive traffic (such as file uploads).

[0179] While the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b are illustrated and described in the example of Figure 11 as being associated with the AP 102-a, it may be understood that more or less than two STAs may be associated with the AP 102-a. For example, the AP 102-a may indicate the lists of OBSSs to two STAs. as shown in the example of Figure 11, more than two STAs, or less than two STAs.

[0180] Figure 12 shows an example of a process flow 1200 that supports nonprimary channel access control. The process flow 1200 may implement, or be implemented by, one or more aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, the PPDU 350, the wireless communication system 500, the wireless communication system 1000, the wireless communication system 1 100, or any combination thereof. For example, the process flow 1200 illustrates communication between an AP 102-a, a STA 104-a, an AP 102-b, and a STA 104-b, which may be examples of corresponding devices described with reference to Figures 1, 10. and 11.

[0181] In the following description of the process flow 1200, the operations may be performed (such as reported or provided) in a different order than the order shown, or the operations performed by the example devices may be performed in different orders or at different times. For example, specific operations also may be left out of the process flow 1200, or other operations may be added to the process flow 1200. Further, although some operations or signaling may be shown to occur at different times for discussion purposes, these operations may actually occur at the same time.

[0182] At 1204, the AP 102-a may establish a wireless communication link with the STA 104-a. The wireless communication link may be associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary' channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel. The wireless communication link, the first primary' channel, and the second primary' channel may be an example of the wirelesscommunication link 1002, the first primary channel 1004-a, and the second primary channel 1004-b as described with reference to Figure 10.

[0183] At 1206 the STA 104-a may start a timer. For example, the STA 104-a may store identifiers of OBSSs and / or signal strengths associated with transmissions from OBSSs for the duration of the timer.

[0184] At 1208 and 1210, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a, respectively, may monitor for OBSSs. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs.

[0185] At 1212, the STA 104-b may transmit a data packet to the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a. For example, the STA 104-b may be associated with a second BSS (such as different than the BSS). and the data packet may be advertising the second BSS. That is, the STA 104-b may be an OBSS STA, and the data packet may represent a transmission from an OBSS. For example, the data packet may be an example of the OBSS PPDU 1006 as described with reference to Figure 10. In other words, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may receive a transmission from the STA 104-b (such as the OBSS).

[0186] At 1214 and 1216, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a, respectively, may decode the OBSS packet. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may decode a preamble of the OBSS packet. The AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may determine that the OBSS packet is from the STA 104-b and / or that the STA 104-b is associated with the second BSS different than the first BSS.

[0187] At 1218, the STA 104-a may store the transmitter address. For example, the STA 104-a may store the transmitter address associated with the data packet received at 1212 and decoded at 1216 in accordance with the duration of the timer. That is, the STA 104-a may store packets received over the duration of the timer and transmit a list of transmitter addresses accumulated over the duration of the timer after the expiry of the timer. For example, at 1220, the timer may expire and at 1222, the STA 104-a may transmit an indication of the transmitter address to the AP 102-a. In other words, the STA 104-a may transmit periodic indications of transmitter addresses including transmitter addresses associated with packets received over a past period. In some aspects, the STA 104-a may store and periodically transmit indications of thetransmitter addresses and associated signal strengths. For example, the STA 104-a may transmit an indication of a signal strength of the data packet received at 1212 and decoded at 1216. The STA 104-a may store the signal strength to be transmitted after the expiry of the timer.

[0188] At 1224, the STA 104-a may indicate a traffic type to the AP 102-a. For example, the STA 104-a may indicate whether the STA 104-a is associated with latency -sensitive traffic, such as traffic for XR or gaming.

[0189] At 1226, the AP 102-a may assign identifiers to the OBSSs. For example, the AP 102-a may assign the identifiers in accordance with receiving the indication of the transmitter address at 1222 and / or in accordance with receiving the data packet at 1212. The AP 102-a may refrain from assigning duplicates of identifiers to OBSSs. For example, the AP 102-a may assign an identifier to the OBSS associated with the data packet received at 1212, in examples in which the AP 102-a receives the indication of the transmitter address at 1222 from the STA 104-a, the AP 102-a may refrain from assigning the identifier to the same OBSS again. The identifier may include a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0190] At 1228, the AP 102-a may prepare an OBSS list. For example, the AP 102-a may determine the list of OBSSs in accordance with the traffic type of the STA 104-a received at 1224. For example, the AP 102-a may include a relatively small quantity of OBSSs in the list of OBSSs in accordance with a non-latency-sensitive traffic type of the STA 104-a or a relatively large quantity of OBSSs in the list of OBSSs in accordance with a latency -sensitive traffic type of the STA 104-a. In some aspects, the AP 102-a may add an OBSS to the OBSS list in accordance with a signal strength of a transmission from the OBSS exceeding a signal strength threshold. For example, the AP 102-a may add the OBSS to the OBSS list in accordance with receiving the indication of the signal strength with the indication of the transmitter address of the OBSS from the STA 104-a at 1222.

[0191] At 1229, the STA 104-a may prepare the OBSS list. For example, alternatively to receiving indications of OBSSs (such as at 1230), in some examples, the STA 104-a may determine the OBSS list. The STA 104-a may determine the OBSS listin accordance with or as a part of determining a policy for switching to the second primary' channel. For example, the STA 104-a may determine a policy, including the OBSS list, that indicates conditions under which the STA 104-a may switch from the first primary channel to the second primary channel.

[0192] At 1230, the AP 102-a may transmit indications of OBSSs to the STA 104-a. For example, the AP 102-a may transmit the indications of a list of OBSSs to the STA 104-a on the first primary' channel. In some implementations, the AP 102-a may transmit the indications periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102-a may transmit second indications of a second list of OBSSs to a second STA. For example, the second list of OBSSs may be at least partially different than the list of OBSSs. As an example, the second list of OBSSs may be different than the list of OBSSs in accordance with different traffic types of the second STA and the STA 104-a. In some aspects, the indications of the OBSSs may be in accordance with the identifier(s) assigned at 1226. In other words, the list of OBSSs may be a list of identifiers of different OBSSs.

[0193] At 1232 and 1234, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may determine an availability7of the second primary' channel. For example, the AP 102-a and / or the STA 104-a may monitor for transmissions from OBSSs and, in accordance with the monitoring, determine whether the second primary channel is available. As an example, while monitoring the first primary channel, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may detect a transmission from an OBSS from the list of OBSSs on the primary' channel. In accordance with detecting the transmission from the OBSS from the list of OBSSs. the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may determine that the second primary channel is available.

[0194] At 1236, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may communicate on the second primary' channel. For example, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may communicate on the second primary channel in accordance with detection of the transmission from the OBSS on the first primary channel. In some implementations, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may communicate on the second primary channel after determining that the second primary' channel is available. In other words, the AP 102-a and the STA 104-a may detect the transmission from the OBSS on the first primary channel and switch to the second primary channel.

[0195] Figure 13 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control. In some examples, the wireless communication device is configured to perform the processes 1500 and 1600 described with reference to Figures 15 and 11, respectively. The wireless communication device may include one or more chips, SoCs, chipsets, packages, components or devices that individually or collectively constitute or include a processing system. The processing system may interface with other components of the wireless communication device, and may generally process information (such as inputs or signals) received from such other components and output information (such as outputs or signals) to such other components. In some aspects, an example chip may include a processing system, a first interface to output or transmit information and a second interface to receive or obtain information. For example, the first interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a transmission component, such that the wireless communication device may transmit the information output from the chip. In such an example, the second interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a reception component, such that the wireless communication device may receive information that is then passed to the processing system. In some such examples, the first interface also may obtain information, such as from the transmission component, and the second interface also may output information, such as to the reception component.

[0196] The processing system of the wireless communication device includes processor (or ’'processing") circuitry in the form of one or multiple processors, microprocessors, processing units (such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), neural processing units (NPUs) (also referred to as neural network processors or deep learning processors (DLPs)), or digital signal processors (DSPs)), processing blocks, application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLDs) (such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “processors” or collectively as “the processor” or “the processor circuitry”). One or more of the processors may be individually or collectively configurable or configured to perform various functions or operations described herein. The processing system may further include memory circuitry in the form of one or morememory devices, memory blocks, memory elements or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry, each of which may include tangible storage media such as randomaccess memory (RAM) or ROM, or combinations thereof (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as '’memories" or collectively as “the memory " or “the memory circuitry”). One or more of the memories may be coupled with one or more of the processors and may individually or collectively store processor-executable code that, when executed by one or more of the processors, may configure one or more of the processors to perform various functions or operations described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, one or more of the processors may be preconfigured to perform various functions or operations described herein without requiring configuration by software. The processing system may further include or be coupled with one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (such as IEEE compliant) modem or a cellular (such as 3GPP 4G LTE. 5G or 6G compliant) modem). In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the modems. The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.

[0197] In some examples, the wireless communication device can be configurable or configured for use in an AP, such as the AP 102 described with reference to Figure 1. In some other examples, the wireless communication device can be an AP that includes such a processing system and other components including multiple antennas. The wireless communication device is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications in the form of, for example, wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.1 1 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication device can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive signals and communications conforming to one or more 3GPP specifications including those for 5G NR or 6G. In some examples, the wireless communication device also includes or can be coupled with one or moreapplication processors which may be further coupled with one or more other memories. In some examples, the wireless communication device further includes at least one external network interface coupled with the processing system that enables communication with a core network or backhaul network that enables the wireless communication device to gain access to external networks including the Internet.

[0198] The wireless communication device includes a wireless communication link manager 1325, an OBSS indication manager 1330, an OBSS monitoring manager 1335, a communication manager 1340. and an availability manager 1345. Portions of one or more of the wireless communication link manager 1325, the OBSS indication manager 1330, the OBSS monitoring manager 1335, the communication manager 1340, and the availability manager 1345 may be implemented at least in part in hardware or firmware. For example, one or more of the wireless communication link manager 1325, the OBSS indication manager 1330, the OBSS monitoring manager 1335, the communication manager 1340. and the availability manager 1345 may be implemented at least in part by at least a processor or a modem. In some examples, portions of one or more of the wireless communication link manager 1325, the OBSS indication manager 1330, the OBSS monitoring manager 1335, the communication manager 1340, and the availability manager 1345 may be implemented at least in part by a processor and software in the form of processor-executable code stored in memory.

[0199] The wireless communication device may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The wireless communication link manager 1325 is configurable or configured to establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel. The OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. The OBSS monitoring manager 1335 is configurable or configured to monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from one or more OBSSs in accordance with one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs. The communication manager 1340 is configurable or configured to communicate with the second wireless communicationdevice on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0200] In some examples, the availability manager 1345 is configurable or configured to determine that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. In some examples, communicating on the second primary channel may be in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

[0201] In some examples, the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0202] In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more indications, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to transmit the one or more indications periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

[0203] In some examples, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to transmit one or more second indications of a second one or more OBSSs to a third wireless communication device, the second one or more OBSSs being at least partially different than the one or more OBSSs.

[0204] In some examples, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to assign the OBSS an identifier, the one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs being in accordance with the identifier.

[0205] In some examples, the OBSS monitoring manager 1335 is configurable or configured to receive a transmission from the OBSS, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the transmission from the OBSS.

[0206] In some examples, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to receive an indication of the OBSS from the second wireless communication device, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the indication of the OBSS.

[0207] In some examples, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to add an OBSS to the one or more OBSSs in accordance with a signal strength of a transmission from the OBSS exceeding a signal strength threshold.

[0208] In some examples, the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic ty pe of the second wireless communication device.

[0209] In some examples, the OBSS indication manager 1330 is configurable or configured to receive an indication of a traffic type of the second wireless communication device. In some examples, the one or more OBSSs may be in accordance with the traffic type.

[0210] Figure 14 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control. In some examples, the wireless communication device is configured to perform the processes 1700 and 1800 described with reference to Figures 17 and 13, respectively. The wireless communication device may include one or more chips, SoCs, chipsets, packages, components or devices that individually or collectively constitute or include a processing system. The processing system may interface with other components of the wireless communication device, and may generally process information (such as inputs or signals) received from such other components and output information (such as outputs or signals) to such other components. In some aspects, an example chip may include a processing system, a first interface to output or transmit information and a second interface to receive or obtain information. For example, the first interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a transmission component, such that the wireless communication device may transmit the information output from the chip. In such an example, the second interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a reception component, such that the wireless communication device may receive information that is then passed to the processing system. In some such examples, the first interface also may obtain information, such as from the transmission component, and the second interface also may output information, such as to the reception component.

[0211] The processing system of the wireless communication device includes processor (or “processing”) circuitry in the form of one or multiple processors,microprocessors, processing units (such as CPUs, GPUs, NPUs (also referred to as neural network processors or DLPs), or DSPs), processing blocks, ASIC, PLDs (such as FPGAs), or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as '’processors'’ or collectively as "the processor” or “the processor circuitry”). One or more of the processors may be individually or collectively configurable or configured to perform various functions or operations described herein. The processing system may further include memory circuitry in the form of one or more memory devices, memory blocks, memory elements or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry, each of which may include tangible storage media such as RAM or ROM, or combinations thereof (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “memories” or collectively as “the memory” or “the memon circuitry”). One or more of the memories may be coupled with one or more of the processors and may individually or collectively store processor-executable code that, when executed by one or more of the processors, may configure one or more of the processors to perform various functions or operations described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, one or more of the processors may be preconfigured to perform various functions or operations described herein without requiring configuration by software. The processing system may further include or be coupled with one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (such as IEEE compliant) modem or a cellular (such as 3GPP 4G LTE, 5G or 6G compliant) modem). In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the modems. The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.

[0212] In some examples, the wireless communication device can be configurable or configured for use in a ST A, such as the ST A 104 described with reference to Figure 1. In some other examples, the wireless communication device can be a STA that includes such a processing system and components including multiple antennas. The wireless communication device is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications in the form of, for example, wireless packets. For example, thewireless communication device can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802. 11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication device can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive signals and communications conforming to one or more 3GPP specifications including those for 5G NR or 6G. In some examples, the wireless communication device also includes or can be coupled with one or more application processors which may be further coupled with one or more other memories. In some examples, the wireless communication device further includes a user interface (UI) (such as a touchscreen or keypad) and a display, which may be integrated with the UI to form a touchscreen display that is coupled with the processing system. In some examples, the wireless communication device may further include one or more sensors such as, for example, one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors, that are coupled with the processing system.

[0213] The wireless communication device includes a wireless communication link component 1425, an OBSS indication component 1430, an OBSS monitoring component 1435, a communication component 1440, and an availability component 1445. Portions of one or more of the wireless communication link component 1425, the OBSS indication component 1430, the OBSS monitoring component 1435, the communication component 1440, and the availability component 1445 may be implemented at least in part in hardware or firmw are. For example, one or more of the wireless communication link component 1425, the OBSS indication component 1430, the OBSS monitoring component 1435, the communication component 1440, and the availability component 1445 may be implemented at least in part by at least a processor or a modem. In some examples, portions of one or more of the wireless communication link component 1425, the OBSS indication component 1430, the OBSS monitoring component 1435, the communication component 1440, and the availability component 1445 may be implemented at least in part by a processor and software in the form of processor-executable code stored in memory.

[0214] The wireless communication device may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The wireless communication link component 1425 is configurable or configured to establish a wireless communicationlink with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary' channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel. The OBSS indication component 1430 is configurable or configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary' channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs. The OBSS monitoring component 1435 is configurable or configured to monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from one or more OBSSs in accordance with one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs. The communication component 1440 is configurable or configured to communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0215] In some examples, the OBSS indication component 1430 is configurable or configured to determine the one or more OBSSs. Monitoring for the transmissions from the one or more OBSSs may be in accordance with the determination.

[0216] In some examples, the availability component 1445 is configurable or configured to determine that the second primary' channel is available in accordance w ith monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. In some examples, communicating on the second primary channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

[0217] In some examples, the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0218] In some examples, to support receiving the one or more indications, the OBSS indication component 1430 is configurable or configured to receive the one or more indications periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

[0219] In some examples, the OBSS monitoring component 1435 is configurable or configured to receive a transmission from the OBSS. In some examples, the OBSS indication component 1430 is configurable or configured to transmit an indication of the OBSS to the second 'ireless communication device.

[0220] In some examples, each of the one or more OBSSs is associated with a signal strength of a respective transmission from each of the one or more OBSSs exceeding a signal strength threshold.

[0221] In some examples, the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic ty pe of the first wireless communication device.

[0222] In some examples, the OBSS indication component 1430 is configurable or configured to transmit an indication of a traffic type of the second wireless communication device. In some examples, the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with the traffic ty pe.

[0223] Figure 15 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1500 performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports non-pnmary channel access control. The operations of the process 1500 may be implemented by a first wireless communication device or its components. For example, the process 1500 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device described with reference to Figure 13. operating as or within a wireless AP. In some examples, the process 1500 may be performed by a wireless AP, such as one of the APs 102 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0224] In some examples, in 1505, the first wireless communication device may establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary' channels associated with the second primary channel. The operations of 1505 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed by a wireless communication link manager 1325 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0225] In some examples, in 1510, the first wireless communication device may transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSS. The operations of 1510 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of theoperations of 1510 may be performed by an OBSS indication manager 1330 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0226] In some examples, in 1515, the first wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from one or more OBSSs in accordance with one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1515 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1515 may be performed by an OBSS monitoring manager 1335 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0227] In some examples, in 1520, the first wireless communication device may communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel. The operations of 1520 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1520 may be performed by a communication manager 1340 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0228] Figure 16 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1600 performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control. The operations of the process 1 00 may be implemented by a first wireless communication device or its components. For example, the process 1600 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device described with reference to Figure 13, operating as or within a wireless AP. In some examples, the process 1600 may be performed by a wireless AP, such as one of the APs 102 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0229] In some examples, in 1605, the first wireless communication device may establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary' channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary’ channel. The operations of 1605 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1605 may beperformed by a wireless communication link manager 1325 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0230] In some examples, in 1610, the first wireless communication device may transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1610 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1610 may be performed by an OBSS indication manager 1330 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0231] In some examples, in 1615, the first wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs. The operations of 1615 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1615 may be performed by an OBSS monitoring manager 1335 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0232] In some examples, in 1620, the first wireless communication device may determine that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. In some examples, communicating on the second primary' channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available. The operations of 1620 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1620 may be performed by an availability manager 1345 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0233] In some examples, in 1625, the first wireless communication device may communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel. The operations of 1625 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1625 may be performed by a communication manager 1340 as described with reference to Figure 13.

[0234] Figure 17 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1700 performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports non-primary channel access control. The operations of the process 1700 may be implemented by afirst wireless communication device or its components. For example, the process 1700 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device described with reference to Figure 14, operating as or within a wireless STA. In some examples, the process 1700 may be performed by a wireless STA, such as one of the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0235] In some examples, in 1705, the first wireless communication device may establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary' channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel. The operations of 1705 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1705 may be performed by a wireless communication link component 1425 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0236] In some examples, in 1710, the first wireless communication device may receive, from a second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1710 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1710 may be performed by an OBSS indication component 1430 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0237] In some examples, in 1715, the first wireless communication device may monitor the first primary' channel for transmissions from one or more OBSSs in accordance with one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1715 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1715 may' be performed by an OBSS monitoring component 1435 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0238] In some examples, in 1720, the first wireless communication device may communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel. The operations of 1720 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations,aspects of the operations of 1720 may be performed by a communication component 1440 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0239] Figure 18 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1800 performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports non- primary channel access control. The operations of the process 1800 may be implemented by a first wireless communication device or its components. For example, the process 1800 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device described with reference to Figure 14, operating as or within a wireless STA. In some examples, the process 1800 may be performed by a wireless STA, such as one of the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0240] In some examples, in 1805, the first wireless communication device may establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary' channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel. The operations of 1805 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1805 may be performed by a wireless communication link component 1425 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0241] In some examples, in 1810, the first wireless communication device may receive, from a second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1810 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1810 may be performed by an OBSS indication component 1430 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0242] In some examples, in 1815, the first wireless communication device may monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from one or more OBSSs in accordance with one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs. The operations of 1815 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1815 may be performed by an OBSS monitoring component 1435 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0243] In some examples, in 1820, the first wireless communication device may determine that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs. In some examples, communicating on the second primary channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available. The operations of 1820 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1820 may be performed by an availability component 1445 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0244] In some examples, in 1825, the first wireless communication device may communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel. The operations of 1825 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1825 may be performed by a communication component 1440 as described with reference to Figure 14.

[0245] Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0246] Clause 1 : A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device, including: establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel; transmitting, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary’ channel, one or more indications of one or more OBSSs; monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs; and communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary’ channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0247] Clause 2: The method of clause 1, further including: determining that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs, where communicating on the secondprimary channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

[0248] Clause 3: The method of any of clauses 1-2, where the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0249] Clause 4: The method of any of clauses 1-3, where transmitting the one or more indications includes: transmitting the one or more indications periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

[0250] Clause 5: The method of any of clauses 1-4, further including: transmitting one or more second indications of a second one or more OBSSs to a third wireless communication device, the second one or more OBSSs being at least partially different than the one or more OBSSs.

[0251] Clause 6: The method of any of clauses 1-5, further including: assigning the OBSS an identifier, the one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs being in accordance with the identifier.

[0252] Clause 7 : The method of clause 6, further including: receiving a transmission from the OBSS, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the transmission from the OBSS.

[0253] Clause 8: The method of any of clauses 6-7, further including: receiving an indication of the OBSS from the second wireless communication device, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the indication of the OBSS.

[0254] Clause 9: The method of any of clauses 1-8, further including: adding an OBSS to the one or more OBSSs in accordance with a signal strength of a transmission from the OBSS exceeding a signal strength threshold.

[0255] Clause 10: The method of any of clauses 1-9, where the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic type of the second wireless communication device.

[0256] Clause 1 1 : The method of any of clauses 1 -10, further including: receiving an indication of a traffic type of the second wireless communication device, where the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with the traffic type.

[0257] Clause 12: A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device, including: establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first BSS, a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel; receiving, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of OBSSs; monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs; and communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

[0258] Clause 13: The method of clause 12, further including: determining the one or more OBSSs, where monitoring for the transmissions from the one or more OBSSs is in accordance with the determination.

[0259] Clause 14: The method of any of clauses 12-13, further including: determining that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs, where communicating on the second primary channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

[0260] Clause 15: The method of any of clauses 12-14, where the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

[0261] Clause 16: The method of any of clauses 12-15, where receiving the one or more indications includes: receiving the one or more indications periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

[0262] Clause 17: The method of any of clauses 12-16, further including: receiving a transmission from the OBSS; and transmitting an indication of the OBSS to the second wireless communication device.

[0263] Clause 18: The method of any of clauses 12-17, where each of the one or more OBSSs is associated with a signal strength of a respective transmission from each of the one or more OBSSs exceeding a signal strength threshold.

[0264] Clause 19: The method of any of clauses 12-18, where the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic type of the first wireless communication device.

[0265] Clause 20: The method of any of clauses 12-19, further including: transmitting an indication of a traffic type of the second wireless communication device, where the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with the traffic type.

[0266] Clause 21 : A first wireless communication device for wireless communication, including one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first wireless communication device to perform a method of any of clauses 1-11.

[0267] Clause 22: A first wireless communication device for wireless communication, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 1-11.

[0268] Clause 23: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 1-11.

[0269] Clause 24: A first wireless communication device for wireless communication, including one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first wireless communication device to perform a method of any of clauses 12-20.

[0270] Clause 25: A first wireless communication device for wireless communication, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 12-20.

[0271] Clause 26: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 12-20.

[0272] Clause 27: A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device including: transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, indications of conditions associated with an availability of a first primary channel and of an access procedure associated with a second primary channel; and communicating, with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel, in accordance with the conditions associated with the availability of the first primary' channel being satisfied and in accordance with the access procedure associated with the second primary channel.

[0273] Clause 28: The method of clause 27, further including: monitoring the first primary' channel for an OBSS transmission; and determining that the first primary' channel is unavailable in accordance with the conditions being satisfied, where communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel is in accordance with the first primary' channel being unavailable and the second primary' channel being available when the conditions are satisfied.

[0274] Clause 29: The method of any of clauses 27-28, where the conditions include a CCA threshold, the CCA threshold associated with one or both of a preamble detection threshold or an energy detection threshold.

[0275] Clause 30: The method of any of clauses 27-29, where the conditions include of a PPDU type, a MCS value, a NSS, or a bandwidth associated with an OBSS transmission.

[0276] Clause 31: The method of any of clauses 27-30, where the access procedure includes a threshold quantity of ICFs, the method further including: receiving of a first ICF, a second ICF, or a third ICF on the second primary channel in accordance with the conditions associated with the availability of the first primary' channel being satisfied.

[0277] Clause 32: The method of any of clauses 27-31, where the access procedure includes a plurality of sets of EDCA parameters associated with a plurality of access categories, a set of EDCA parameters of the plurality of sets of EDCA parametersincluding for each access category of the plurality of access categories of a threshold contention window, an AIFS, or a threshold quantity or a threshold duration of transmission opportunities.

[0278] Clause 33: The method of any of clauses 27-32, where the access procedure includes one or both of a random back-off parameter and a contention window parameter to be used over transmission opportunities in the second primary channel.

[0279] Clause 34: The method of any of clauses 27-33, where the access procedure includes an indication of instructions for the second wireless communication device in accordance with an idle status of the first primary channel, the instructions to determine one or both of a random back-off parameter or a threshold contention window or to transmit one or both of a first message on the first primary channel or a second message on the second primary channel in accordance with the idle status of the first primary channel.

[0280] Clause 35: The method of any of clauses 27-34, where the access procedure includes maintaining a NAV across transmission opportunities in the second primary channel.

[0281] Clause 36: The method of any of clauses 27-35, where the access procedure includes CCA thresholds for the second primary' channel, each of the CCA thresholds associated with one or both of a preamble detection threshold and an energy detection threshold.

[0282] Clause 37: The method of clause 36. where a first CCA threshold of the CCA thresholds is associated with an idle state of the first primary channel, and a second CCA threshold of the CCA thresholds is associated with a busy state of the first primary channel.

[0283] Clause 38: The method of any of clauses l- 1, where the access procedure includes instructions for the second wireless communication device to perform a NAV- based switch or a PPDU length-based switch from the first primary channel to the second primary channel.

[0284] Clause 39: The method of any of clauses 27-38, where the indications include first indications and where the second wireless communication device is of aplurality of communication devices associated with the first wireless communication device via a plurality of communication links, the method further including: transmitting, to the plurality of communication devices via the plurality of communication links, respective indications of a plurality of conditions associated with the availability of the first primary channel and of a plurality of access procedures associated with the second primary channel, the respective indications including at least the first indications.

[0285] Clause 40: The method of any of clauses 27-39, where transmitting the indications includes: transmitting the indications via of a broadcast management frame, an association or reassociation response frame, a control field in a management frame or a data frame, or an action frame.

[0286] Clause 41 : The method of any of clauses 27-40, where the indications include first indications, the conditions include first conditions, and the access procedure includes a first access procedure, the method further including: transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, second indications of second conditions associated with the availability' of the first primary channel and of a second access procedure associated with the second primary channel, the second conditions overriding the first conditions and the second access procedure overriding the first access procedure.

[0287] Clause 42: The method of any of clauses 27-41, where one or both of the conditions and the access procedure are in accordance with a capability' of the second wireless communication device.

[0288] Clause 43: A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device including: receiving, from the second wireless communication device, indications of conditions associated with an availability of a first primary channel and of an access procedure associated with a second primary channel; and communicating, with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel, in accordance with the conditions associated with the availability of the first primary channel being satisfied and in accordance with the access procedure associated with the second primary channel.

[0289] Clause 44: The method of clause 43, further including: monitoring the first primary channel for an OBSS transmission; and determining that the first primary channel is unavailable in accordance with the conditions being satisfied, where communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel is in accordance with the first primary channel being unavailable and the second primary channel being available when the conditions are satisfied.

[0290] Clause 45 : The method of any of clauses 43-44, where the conditions include a CCA threshold, the CCA threshold associated with one or both of a preamble detection threshold or an energy detection threshold.

[0291] Clause 46: The method of any of clauses 43-45. where the conditions include of a PPDU type, a MCS value, a NSS, or a bandwidth associated with an OBSS transmission.

[0292] Clause 47 : The method of any of clauses 43-46, where the access procedure includes a threshold quantity of ICFs, the method further including: transmitting of a first ICF. a second ICF, or a third ICF on the second primary channel in accordance with the conditions associated with the availability of the first primary channel being satisfied; and refraining from transmitting a fourth ICF in accordance with the threshold quantity of ICFs.

[0293] Clause 48: The method of any of clauses 43-47, where the access procedure includes a plurality of sets of EDCA parameters associated with a plurality of access categories, a set of EDCA parameters of the plurality of sets of EDCA parameters including for each access category7of the plurality7of access categories of a threshold contention window, an AIFS, or a threshold quantity7or a threshold duration of transmission opportunities.

[0294] Clause 49: The method of any of clauses 43-48. where the access procedure includes one or both of a random back-off parameter and a contention window parameter to be used over transmission opportunities in the second primary7channel.

[0295] Clause 50: The method of any of clauses 43-49, further including: transmitting an ICF on the second primary channel; and contending for access to thesecond primary channel in accordance with the access procedure and in accordance with a failure of the ICF.

[0296] Clause 51 : The method of any of clauses 43-50, where the access procedure includes an indication of instructions for the second wireless communication device in accordance with an idle status of the first primary channel, the instructions to determine one or both of a random back-off parameter or a threshold contention window or to transmit one or both of a first message on the first primary channel or a second message on the second primary channel in accordance with the idle status of the first primary channel.

[0297] Clause 52: The method of any of clauses 43-51. where the access procedure includes maintaining a N AV across transmission opportunities in the second primary' channel.

[0298] Clause 53: The method of any of clauses 43-52, where the access procedure includes CCA thresholds for the second primary channel, each of the CCA thresholds associated with one or both of a preamble detection threshold and an energy detection threshold.

[0299] Clause 54: The method of clause 53, where a first CCA threshold of the CCA thresholds is associated with an idle state of the first primary7channel and a second CCA threshold of the CCA thresholds is associated with a busy state of the first primary channel.

[0300] Clause 55: The method of any of clauses 43-54. where the access procedure includes instructions for the second wireless communication device to perform a NAV- based switch or a PPDU length-based switch from the first primary7channel to the second primary channel.

[0301] Clause 56: The method of any of clauses 43-55, where receiving the indications includes: receiving the indications via of a broadcast management frame, an association or reassociation response frame, a control field in a management frame or a data frame, or an action frame.

[0302] Clause 57: The method of any of clauses 43-56, where the indications include first indications, the conditions include first conditions, and the accessprocedure includes a first access procedure, the method further including: receiving, from the second wireless communication device, second indications of second conditions associated with the availability of the first primary channel and of a second access procedure associated with the second primary channel, the second conditions overriding the first conditions and the second access procedure overriding the first access procedure.

[0303] Clause 58: The method of any of clauses 43-57, where one or both of the conditions and the access procedure are in accordance with a capability of the first wireless communication device.

[0304] Clause 59: An apparatus for wireless communication, including memories storing processor-executable code, and processors coupled with the memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of clauses 27-42.

[0305] Clause 60: An apparatus for wireless communication, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 27-42.

[0306] Clause 61 : A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by processors to perform a method of any of clauses 27-42.

[0307] Clause 62: An apparatus for wireless communication, including memories storing processor-executable code, and processors coupled with the memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of clauses 43-58.

[0308] Clause 63: An apparatus for wireless communication, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 43-58.

[0309] Clause 64: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by processors to perform a method of any of clauses 43-58.

[0310] As used herein, the term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, estimating, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in atable, a database, or another data structure), inferring, ascertaining, or measuring, among other possibilities. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data stored in memory) or transmitting (such as transmitting information), among other possibilities. Additionally, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, obtaining, choosing, establishing and other such similar actions.

[0311] As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b. c, a-b, a-c, b-c. and a-b-c. As used herein, “or” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “a or b” may include a only, b only, or a combination of a and b. Furthermore, as used herein, a phrase referring to “a” or “an” element refers to one or more of such elements acting individually or collectively to perform the recited function(s). Additionally, a “set” refers to one or more items, and a “subset” refers to less than a whole set, but non-empty.

[0312] As used herein, “based on” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “based on” may be used interchangeably with “based at least in part on,” “associated with.” “in association with.” or “in accordance with” unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Specifically, unless a phrase refers to “based on only 'a,’” or the equivalent in context, whatever it is that is “based on ‘a,’” or “based at least in part on ‘a,’” may be based on “a” alone or based on a combination of “a” and one or more other factors, conditions, or information.

[0313] The various illustrative components, logic, logical blocks, modules, circuits, operations, and algorithm processes described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or combinations of hardware, firmware, or software, including the structures disclosed in this specification and the structural equivalents thereof. The interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software has been described generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and processes described above. Whether such functionality7is implemented in hardware, firmware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0314] Various modifications to the examples described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

[0315] Additionally, various features that are described in this specification in the context of separate examples also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple examples separately or in any suitable subcombination. As such, although features may be described above as acting in particular combinations, and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0316] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of a flowchart or flow. However, other operations that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.Moreover, the separation of various system components in the examples described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all examples, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A first wireless communication device, comprising: a processing system that includes processor circuitry' and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the first wireless communication device to: establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first basic service set (BSS), a first primary’ channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel; transmit, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more overlapping BSSs (OBSSs); monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs; and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primarychannel.

2. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to determine that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs, wherein communicating on the second primary channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

3. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

4. The first wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indications are transmitted periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

5. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to transmit one or more second indications of a second one or more OBSSs to a third wireless communication device, the second one or more OBSSs being at least partially different than the one or more OBSSs.

6. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to assign the OBSS an identifier, the one or more indications of the one or more OBSSs being in accordance with the identifier.

7. The first wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to receive a transmission from the OBSS, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the transmission from the OBSS.

8. The first wireless communication device of claim 6. wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to receive an indication of the OBSS from the second wireless communication device, the assigning of the OBSS the identifier in accordance with receiving the indication of the OBSS.

9. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to add an OBSS to the one or more OBSSs in accordance with a signal strength of a transmission from the OBSS exceeding a signal strength threshold.

10. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic type of the second wireless communication device.1 1 . The first wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to receive an indication of a traffic type of the second wireless communication device, wherein the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with the traffic type.

12. A first wireless communication device, comprising: a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the first wireless communication device to: establish a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first basic sendee set (BSS), a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel; receive, from the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more of overlapping BSSs (OBSSs); monitor the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs; and communicate with the second wireless communication device on the second primary channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS of the one or more OBSSs on the first primary channel.

13. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to determine that the second primary channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel for the transmissions from OBSSs, wherein communicating on the second primary' channel is in accordance with determining that the second primary channel is available.

14. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more indications include identifiers of the one or more OBSSs, the identifiers being one or more of a BSS color, a transmitter address, a BSS identifier, or a unique identifier mapping to an OBSS transmitter address.

15. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more indications are received periodically via a beacon frame, a management frame, or an action frame.

16. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to: receive a transmission from the OBSS; and transmit an indication of the OBSS to the second wireless communication device.

17. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more OBSSs is associated with a signal strength of a respective transmission from each of the one or more OBSSs exceeding a signal strength threshold.

18. The first wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more OBSSs are in accordance with a traffic type of the first wireless communication device.

19. A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device, comprising: establishing a wireless communication link with a second wireless communication device, the link being associated with a first basic service set (BSS), a first primary channel, one or more first secondary channels associated with the first primary’ channel, a second primary channel, and one or more second secondary channels associated with the second primary channel; transmitting, to the second wireless communication device on the first primary channel, one or more indications of one or more overlapping BSSs (OBSSs); monitoring the first primary channel for transmissions from OBSSs; and communicating with the second wireless communication device on the second primary' channel in accordance with a detection of at least one transmission from an OBSS from the one or more OBSSs on the first primary' channel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining that the second primary' channel is available in accordance with monitoring the first primary channel forthe transmissions from OBSSs, wherein communicating on the second primary channel is in accordance wi th determining that the second primary' channel is available.

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