Tone selective transmission via a resource unit

Abstract

A station (STA) transmits, to an access point (AP), a first frame indicating a resource unit (RU) tone distribution. The STA receives, from the AP, a trigger frame allocating a first RU to the STA. The STA determines, based on the RU tone distribution, one or more first tones and one or more second tones of the first RU. The STA transmits, to the AP and in response to the trigger frame, a second frame via the first RU, where a first transmit power of a first tone of the one or more first tones is different from a second transmit power of a second tone of the one or more second tones.

Description

TITLETone Selective Transmission via a Resource UnitCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 650,454, filed May 22, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 665,337, filed June 28, 2024, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Examples of several of the various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings.

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates example wireless communication networks in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating example implementations of a station (STA) and an access point (AP).

[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a Medium Access Control (MAC) frame format.

[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a Quality of Service (QoS) null frame indicating buffer status information.

[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a non-High Throughput (non-HT) Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU), a High Throughput (HT) mixed PPDU, and a Very High Throughput (VHT) PPDU.

[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a High Efficiency (HE) Single User (SU) PPDU, an HE Multi-User (MU) PPDU, and an HE Extended Range (ER) SU PPDU.

[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Multi-user (MU) PPDU.

[0010] FIG. 8 illustrates examples of trigger-based (TB) PPDUs.

[0011] FIG. 9 illustrates an example trigger frame.

[0012] FIG. 10 illustrates an example Common Info field.

[0013] FIG. 11 illustrates an example management frame which may be used as an action frame.

[0014] FIG. 12 shows an example that illustrates use of a TB PPDU.

[0015] FIG. 13 illustrates an example allocation of non-distributed resource units.

[0016] FIG. 14 illustrates an example allocation of distributed resource units.

[0017] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an operation using distributed resource units.

[0018] FIG. 16 illustrates an example that highlights a problem that may arise in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication environment.

[0019] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 20 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 21 illustrates an example of an RU tone distribution in accordance with an embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 22 illustrates an example process according to an embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 23 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 24 illustrates an example of a transmission operation that may be used by a device to boost its transmit power.

[0027] FIG. 25 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 26 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 27 illustrates an example of an operation according to an embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 28 illustrates an example process according to an embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 29 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 30 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In the present disclosure, various embodiments are presented as examples of how the disclosed techniques may be implemented and / or how the disclosed techniques may be practiced in environments and scenarios. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement alternative embodiments. The present embodiments may not be limited by any of the described exemplary embodiments. The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Limitations, features, and / or elements from the disclosed example embodiments may be combined to create further embodiments within the scope of the disclosure Any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages, are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than that shown. For example, the actions listed in any flowchart may be re-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments.

[0034] Embodiments may be configured to operate as needed. The disclosed mechanism may be performed when certain criteria are met, for example, in a station, an access point, a radio environment, a network, a combination of the above, and / or the like. Example criteria may be based, at least in part, on for example, wireless device or network node configurations, traffic load, initial system set up, packet sizes, traffic characteristics, a combination of the above, and / or the like. When the one or more criteria are met, various example embodiments may be applied. Therefore, it may be possible to implement example embodiments that selectively implement disclosed protocols.

[0035] In this disclosure, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” Similarly, any term that ends with the suffix “(s)” is to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more." In this disclosure, the term “may” is to be interpreted as “may, for example.” In other words, the term “may” is indicative that the phrase following the term “may” is an example of one of a multitude of suitablepossibilities that may, or may not, be employed by one or more of the various embodiments. The terms “comprises” and “consists of’, as used herein, enumerate one or more components of the element being described. The term “comprises” is interchangeable with “includes" and does not exclude unenumerated components from being included in the element being described. By contrast, “consists of provides a complete enumeration of the one or more components of the element being described. The term “based on”, as used herein, may be interpreted as “based at least in part on” rather than, for example, “based solely on”. The term “and / or” as used herein represents any possible combination of enumerated elements. For example, “A, B, and / or C” may represent A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B, and C.

[0036] If A and B are sets and every element of A is an element of B, A is called a subset of B. In this specification, only non-empty sets and subsets are considered. For example, possible subsets of B = {STA1 , STA2} are: {STA1 }, {STA2}, and {STA1 , STA2}. The phrase “based on” (or equally “based at least on”) is indicative that the phrase following the term “based on” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments. The phrase “in response to” (or equally “in response at least to”) is indicative that the phrase following the phrase “in response to” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments. The phrase “depending on” (or equally “depending at least to”) is indicative that the phrase following the phrase “depending on” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments. The phrase “employing / using” (or equally “employing / using at least”) is indicative that the phrase following the phrase “employing / using” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments.

[0037] The term configured may relate to the capacity of a device whether the device is in an operational or non-operational state. Configured may refer to specific settings in a device that effect the operational characteristics of the device whether the device is in an operational or non-operational state. In other words, the hardware, software, firmware, registers, memory values, and / or the like may be “configured” within a device, whether the device is in an operational or nonoperational state, to provide the device with specific characteristics. Terms such as “a control message to cause in a device” may mean that a control message has parameters that may be used to configure specific characteristics or may be used to implement certain actions in the device, whether the device is in an operational or non-operational state.

[0038] In this disclosure, parameters (or equally called, fields, or Information elements: IBs) may comprise one or more information objects, and an information object may comprise one or more other objects. For example, if parameter (IE) N comprises parameter (IE) M, and parameter (IE) M comprises parameter (IE) K, and parameter (IE) K comprises parameter (information element) J. Then, for example, N comprises K, and N comprises J. In an example embodiment, when one or more messages / frames comprise a plurality ofparameters, it implies that a parameter in the plurality of parameters is in at least one of the one or more messages / frames but does not have to be in each of the one or more messages / frames.

[0039] Many features presented are described as being optional through the use of “may” or the use of parentheses. For the sake of brevity and legibility, the present disclosure does not explicitly recite each and every permutation that may be obtained by choosing from the set of optional features. The present disclosure is to be interpreted as explicitly disclosing all such permutations. For example, a system described as having three optional features may be embodied in seven ways, namely with just one of the three possible features, with any two of the three possible features or with three of the three possible features.

[0040] Many of the elements described in the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as modules. A module is defined here as an element that performs a defined function and has a defined interface to other elements. The modules described in this disclosure may be implemented in hardware, software in combination with hardware, firmware, wetware (e.g. hardware with a biological element) or a combination thereof, which may be behaviorally equivalent. For example, modules may be implemented as a software routine written in a computer language configured to be executed by a hardware machine (such as C, C++, Fortran, Java, Basic, MATLAB or the like) or a modeling / simulation program such as Simulink, Stateflow, GNU Octave, or LabVIEW MathScript. It may be possible to implement modules using physical hardware that incorporates discrete or programmable analog, digital and / or quantum hardware. Examples of programmable hardware comprise: computers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs); field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). Computers, microcontrollers and microprocessors are programmed using languages such as assembly, C, C++ or the like. FPGAs, ASICs and CPLDs are often programmed using hardware description languages (HDL) such as VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL) or Verilog that configure connections between internal hardware modules with lesser functionality on a programmable device. The mentioned technologies are often used in combination to achieve the result of a functional module.

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates example wireless communication networks in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1 , the example wireless communication networks may include an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WLAN) infra-structure network 102. WLAN infra-structure network 102 may include one or more basic service sets (BSSs) 1 10 and 120 and a distribution system (DS) 130

[0043] BSS 110-1 and 110-2 each includes a set of an access point (AP or AP STA) and at least one station (STA or non-AP STA). For example, BSS 110-1 includes an AP 104-1 and a STA 106-1 , and BSS 1 10-2 includes an AP 104-2 and STAs 106-2 and 106-3. The AP and the at least one STA in a BSS perform an association procedure to communicate with each other..

[0044] DS 130 may be configured to connect BSS 110-1 and BSS 110-2. As such, DS 130 may enable an extended service set (ESS) 150. Within ESS 150, APs 104-1 and 104-2 are connected via DS 130and may have the same service set identification (SSID).

[0045] WLAN infra-structure network 102 may be coupled to one or more external networks. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , WLAN infra-structure network 102 may be connected to another network 108 (e.g., 802.X) via a portal 140. Portal 140 may function as a bridge connecting DS 130 of WLAN infra-structure network 102 with the other network 108.

[0046] The example wireless communication networks illustrated in FIG. 1 may further include one or more ad-hoc networks or independent BSSs (IBSSs). An ad-hoc network or IBSS is a network that includes a plurality of STAs that are within communication range of each other. The plurality of STAs are configured so that they may communicate with each other using direct peer-to-peer communication (i.e., not via an AP).

[0047] For example, in FIG. 1 , STAs 106-4, 106-5, and 106-6 may be configured to form a first IBSS 112- 1 . Similarly, STAs 106-7 and 106-8 may be configured to form a second IBSS 112-2. Since an IBSS does not include an AP, it does not include a centralized management entity. Rather, STAs within an IBSS are managed in a distributed manner. STAs forming an IBSS may be fixed or mobile.

[0048] A STA as a predetermined functional medium may include a medium access control (MAC) layer that complies with an IEEE 802.11 standard. A physical layer interface for a radio medium may be used among the APs and the non-AP stations (STAs). The STA may also be referred to using various other terms, including mobile terminal, wireless device, wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile subscriber unit, or user. For example, the term “user" may be used to denote a STA participating in uplink Multi-user Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU MIMO) and / or uplink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmission.

[0049] A physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) may be a composite structure that includes a PHY preamble and a payload in the form of a PLCP service data unit (PSDU). For example, the PSDU may include a PHY Convergence Protocol (PLCP) preamble and header and / or one or more MAC protocol data units (MPDUs). The information provided in the PHY preamble may be used by a receiving device to decode the subsequent data in the PSDU. In instances in which PPDUs are transmitted over a bonded channel (channel formed through channel bonding), the preamble fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the multiple component channels. The PHY preamble may include both a legacy portion (or “legacy preamble”) and a non-legacy portion (or “non-legacy preamble”). The legacy preamble 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 based on the particular IEEE 802.1 1 protocol to be used to transmit the payload.

[0050] A frequency band may include one or more sub-bands or frequency channels. For example, PPDUs conforming to the IEEE 802.11 n, 802.1 1ac, 802.11 ax and / or 802.11 be standard amendments may be transmitted over the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and / or 6 GHz bands, each of which may be divided into multiple 20 MHz channels. The PPDUs may be transmitted over a physical channel having a minimum bandwidth of 20 MHz. Larger channels may be formed through channel bonding. For example, PPDUs may be transmitted over physical channels having bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 520 MHz by bonding together multiple 20 MHz channels.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating example implementations of a STA 210 and an AP 260. As shown in FIG. 2, STA 210 may include at least one processor 220, a memory 230, and at least one transceiver 240. AP 260 may include at least one processor 270, a memory 280, and at least one transceiver 290. Processor 220 / 270 may be operatively connected to memory 230 / 280 and / or to transceiver 240 / 290.

[0052] Processor 220 / 270 may implement functions of the PHY layer, the MAC layer, and / or the logical link control (LLC) layer of the corresponding device (STA 210 or AP 260). Processor 220 / 270 may include one or more processors and / or one or more controllers. The one or more processors and / or one or more controllers may comprise, for example, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a logic circuit, or a chipset, for example.

[0053] Memory 230 / 280 may include a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a memory card, a storage medium, and / or other storage unit. Memory 230 / 280 may comprise one or more non-transitory computer readable mediums. Memory 230 / 280 may store computer program instructions or code that may be executed by processor 220 / 270 to carry out one or more of the operations / embodiments discussed in the present application. Memory 230 / 280 may be implemented (or positioned) within processor 220 / 270 or external to processor 220 / 270. Memory 230 / 280 may be operatively connected to processor 220 / 270 via various means known in the art.

[0054] Transceiver 240 / 290 may be configured to transmit / receive radio signals. In an embodiment, transceiver 240 / 290 may implement a PHY layer of the corresponding device (STA 210 or AP 260). In an embodiment, STA 210 and / or AP 260 may be a multi-link device (MLD), that is a device capable of operating over multiple links as defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard. As such, STA 210 and / or AP 260 may each implement multiple PHY layers. The multiple PHY layers may be implemented using one or more of transceivers 240 / 290

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates an example format of a MAC frame. In operation, a STA may construct a subset of MAC frames for transmission and may decode a subset of received MAC frames upon validation. The particular subsets of frames that a STA may construct and / or decode may be determined by the functions supported by the STA. A STA may validate a received MAC frame using the frame check sequence (FCS) contained in the frame and may interpret certain fields from the MAC headers of all frames.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3, a MAC frame includes a MAC header, a variable length frame body, and a frame check sequence (FCS).

[0057] The MAC header includes a frame control field, an optional duration / ID field, address fields, an optional sequence control field, an optional QoS control field, and an optional HT control field.

[0058] The frame control fields include the following subfields: protocol version, type, subtype, To DS, From DS, more fragments, retry, power management, more data, protected frame, and +HTC.

[0059] The protocol version subfield is invariant in size and placement across all revisions of the IEEE 802.1 1 standard. The value of the protocol version subfield is 0 for MAC frames.

[0060] The type and subtype subfields together identify the function of the MAC frame. There are three frame types: control, data, and management. Each of the frame types has several defined subtypes. Bits within the subtype subfield are used to indicate a specific modification of the basic data frame (subtype 0). For example, in data frames, the most significant bit (MSB) of the subtype subfield, bit 7 (B7) of the frame control field, is defined as the QoS subfield. When the QoS subfield is set to 1 , it indicates a QoS subtype data frame, which is a data frame that contains a QoS control field in its MAC header. The second MSB of the subtype field, bit 6 (B6) of the frame control field, when set to 1 in data subtypes, indicates a data frame that contain no frame body field.

[0061] The To DS subfield indicates whether a data frame is destined to the distribution system (DS). The From DS subfield indicates whether a data frame originates from the DS.

[0062] The more fragments subfield is set to 1 in all data or management frames that have another fragment to follow of the MAC service data unit (MSDU) or MAC management protocol data unit (MMPDU) carried by the MAC frame. It is set to 0 in all other frames in which the more fragments subfield is present.

[0063] The retry subfield is set to 1 in any data or management frame that is a retransmission of an earlier frame. It is set to 0 in all other frames in which the retry subfield is present. A receiving STA uses this indication to aid it in the process of eliminating duplicate frames. These rules do not apply for frames sent by a STA under a block agreement.

[0064] The power management subfield is used to indicate the power management mode of a STA.

[0065] The More Data subfield indicates to a STA in power save (PS) mode that bufferable units (Bus) are buffered for that STA at the AP. The more data subfield is valid in individually addressed data or management frames transmitted by an AP to a STA in PS mode. The more data subfield is set to 1 to indicate that at least one additional buffered BU is present for the STA.

[0066] The protected frame subfield is set to 1 if the frame body field contains information that has been processed by a cryptographic encapsulation algorithm.

[0067] The +HTC subfield indicates that the MAC frame contains an HT control field.

[0068] The duration / ID field of the MAC header indicates various contents depending on frame type and subtype and the QoS capabilities of the sending STA. For example, in control frames of the power save poll(PS-Poll) subtype, the duration / ID field carries an association identifier (AID) of the STA that transmitted the frame in the 14 least significant bits (LSB), and the 2 most significant bits (MSB) are both set to 1 . In other frames sent by STAs, the duration / ID field contains a duration value (in microseconds) which is used by a recipient to update a network allocation vector (NAV). The NAV is a counter that it indicates to a STA an amount of time during which it must defer from accessing the shared medium.

[0069] There can be up to four address fields in the MAC frame format. These fields are used to indicate the basic service set identifier (BSSID), source address (SA), destination address (DA), transmitting address (TA), and receiving address (RA). Certain frames might not contain some of the address fields. Certain address field usage may be specified by the relative position of the address field (1—4) within the MAC header, independent of the type of address present in that field. Specifically, the address 1 field always identifies the intended receiver(s) of the frame, and the address 2 field, where present, always identifies the transmitter of the frame.

[0070] The sequence control field includes two subfields, a sequence number subfield and a fragment number subfield. The sequence number subfield in data frames indicates the sequence number of the MSDU (if not in an Aggregated MSDU (A-MSDU)) or A-MSDU. The sequence number subfield in management frames indicates the sequence number of the frame. The fragment number subfield indicates the number of each fragment of an MSDU or MMPDU. The fragment number is set to 0 in the first or only fragment of an MSDU or MMPDU and is incremented by one for each successive fragment of that MSDU or MMPDU. The fragment number is set to 0 in a MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) containing an A-MSDU, or in an MPDU containing an MSDU or MMPDU that is not fragmented. The fragment number remains constant in all retransmissions of the fragment

[0071] The QoS control field identifies the traffic category (TC) or traffic stream (TS) to which the MAC frame belongs. The QoS control field may also indicate various other QoS related, A-MSDU related, and mesh- related information about the frame. This information can vary by frame type, frame subtype, and type of transmitting STA. The QoS control field is present in all data frames in which the QoS subfield of the subtype subfield is equal to 1.

[0072] The HT control field is present in QoS data, QoS null, and management frames as determined by the +HTC subfield of the frame control field.

[0073] The frame body field is a variable length field that contains information specific to individual frame types and subtypes. It may include one or more MSDUs or MMPDUs The minimum length of the frame body is 0 octets.

[0074] The FCS field contains a 32-bit Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code. The FCS field value is calculated over all of the fields of the MAC header and the frame body field.

[0075] FIG. 4 illustrates an example 400 of a QoS null frame indicating buffer status information. A QoS null frame refers to a QoS data frame with an empty frame body. A QoS null frame includes a QoS control fieldand an optional HT control field which may contain a buffer status report (BSR) control subfield. A QoS null frame indicating buffer status information may be transmitted by a STA to an AP.

[0076] The QoS control field may include a traffic identifier (TID) subfield, an ack policy indicator subfield, and a queue size subfield (or a transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration requested subfield).

[0077] The TID subfield identifies the TC or TS of traffic for which a TXOP is being requested, through the setting of the TXOP duration requested or queue size subfield. The encoding of the TID subfield depends on the access policy (e.g., Allowed value 0 to 7 for enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) access policy to identify user priority for either TC or TS).

[0078] The ack policy indicator subfield, together with other information, identifies the acknowledgment policy followed upon delivery of the MPDU (e.g., normal ack, implicit block ack request, no ack, block ack, etc.)

[0079] The queue size subfield is an 8-bit field that indicates the amount of buffered traffic for a given TC or TS at the STA for transmission to the AP identified by the receiver address of the frame containing the subfield. The queue size subfield is present in QoS null frames sent by a STA when bit 4 of the QoS control field is set to 1 . The AP may use information contained in the queue size subfield to determine t TXOP duration assigned to the STA or to determine the uplink (UL) resources assigned to the STA.

[0080] In a frame sent by or to a non-High Efficiency (non-HE) STA, the following rules may apply to the queue size value:The queue size value is the approximate total size, rounded up to the nearest multiple of 256 octets and expressed in units of 256 octets, of all MSDUs and A-MSDUs buffered at the STA (excluding the MSDU or A-MSDU contained in the present QoS Data frame) in the delivery queue used for MSDUs and A-MSDUs with TID values equal to the value indicated in the TID subfield of the QoS Control field.A queue size value of 0 is used solely to indicate the absence of any buffered traffic in the queue used for the specified TID.A queue size value of 254 is used for all sizes greater than 64 768 octets.A queue size value of 255 is used to indicate an unspecified or unknown size.

[0081] In a frame sent by an HE STA to an HE AP, the following rules may apply to the queue size value.

[0082] The queue size value, QS, is the approximate total size in octets, of all MSDUs and A-MSDUs buffered at the STA (including the MSDUs or A-MSDUs contained in the same PSDU as the frame containing the queue size subfield) in the delivery queue used for MSDUs and A-MSDUs with TID values equal to the value indicated in the TID subfield of the QoS control field.

[0083] The queue size subfield includes a scaling factor subfield in bits B14-B15 of the QoS control field and an unsealed value, UV, in bits B8-B13 of the QoS control field. The scaling factor subfield provides the scaling factor, SF.

[0084] A STA obtains the queue size, QS, from a received QoS control field, which contains a scaling factor, SF, and an unsealed value, UV, as follows:QS =16 x(A / , if SF is equal to O;1024 + 256 * UV, if SF is equal to 1 ;17 408 + 2048 x UV, if SF is equal to 2;148 480 + 32 768 x UV, if SF is equal to 3 and UV is less than 62;> 2 147 328, if SF equal to is 3 and UV is equal to 62;Unspecified or Unknown, if SF is equal to 3 and UV is equal to 63.

[0085] The TXOP duration requested subfield, which may be included instead of the queue size subfield, indicates the duration, in units of 32 microseconds (us), that the sending STA determines it needs for its next TXOP for the specified TID. The TXOP duration requested subfield is set to 0 to indicate that no TXOP is requested for the specified TID in the current service period (SP). The TXOP duration requested subfield is set to a nonzero value to indicate a requested TXOP duration in the range of 32 us to 8160 us in increments of 32 us.

[0086] The HT control field may include a BSR control subfield which may contain buffer status information used for UL MU operation. The BSR control subfield may be formed from an access category index (ACI) bitmap subfield, a delta TID subfield, an ACI high subfield, a scaling factor subfield, a queue size high subfield, and a queue size all subfield of the HT control field.

[0087] The ACI bitmap subfield indicates the access categories for which buffer status is reported (e.g., B0: best effort (AC_BE), B1 : background (AC_BK), B2: video (AC_VI), B3: voice (AC_VO), etc.). Each bit of the ACI bitmap subfield is set to 1 to indicate that the buffer status of the corresponding AC is included in the queue size all subfield, and set to 0 otherwise, except that if the ACI bitmap subfield is 0 and the delta TID subfield is 3, then the buffer status of all 8 TIDs is included.

[0088] The delta TID subfield, together with the values of the ACI bitmap subfield, indicate the number of TIDs for which the STA is reporting the buffer status.

[0089] The ACI high subfield indicates the ACI of the AC for which the BSR is indicated in the queue size high subfield. The ACI to AC mapping is defined as ACI value 0 mapping to AC_BE, ACI value 1 mapping to AC_BK, ACI value 2 mapping to AC_VI, and ACI value 3 mapping to AC_VO.

[0090] The scaling factor subfield indicates the unit SF, in octets, of the queue size high and queue size all subfields.

[0091] The queue size high subfield indicates the amount of buffered traffic, in units of SF octets, for the AC identified by the ACI high subfield, that is intended for the STA identified by the receiver address of the frame containing the BSR control subfield.

[0092] The queue size all subfield indicates the amount of buffered traffic, in units of SF octets, for all Acs identified by the ACI Bitmap subfield, that is intended for the STA identified by the receiver address of the frame containing the BSR control subfield.

[0093] The queue size values in the queue size high and queue size all subfields are the total sizes, rounded up to the nearest multiple of SF octets, of all MSDUs and A-MSDUs buffered at the STA (including the MSDUs or A-MSDUs contained in the same PSDU as the frame containing the BSR control subfield) in delivery queues used for MSDUs and A-MSDUs associated with AC(s) that are specified in the ACI high and ACI bitmap subfields, respectively.

[0094] A queue size value of 254 in the queue size high and queue size all subfields indicates that the amount of buffered traffic is greater than 254 x SF octets. A queue size value of 255 in the queue size high and queue size all subfields indicates that the amount of buffered traffic is an unspecified or unknown size. The queue size value of QoS data frames containing fragments may remain constant even if the amount of queued traffic changes as successive fragments are transmitted.

[0095] MAC service provides peer entities with the ability to exchange MSDUs. To support this service, a local MAC uses the underlying PHY-level service to transport the MSDUs to a peer MAC entity. Such asynchronous MSDU transport is performed on a connectionless basis.

[0096] FIG. 5 illustrates a non-High Throughput (non-HT) PPDU 510, a High Throughput (HT) mixed mode PPDU 520, and a Very High Throughput (VHT) PPDU 530.

[0097] Non-HT PPDU 510 may be used by STAs conforming to the IEEE 802.1 1a standard amendment. As shown in FIG. 5, non-HT PPDU 510 includes a non-HT Short Training field (L-STF), a non-HT Long Training field (L-LTF), a non-HT Signal field (L-SIG), and a Data field. The L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG form a 20 pis preamble of non-HT PPDU 510.

[0098] The L-STF may be used by a receiver of non-HT PPDU 510 to synchronize with the carrier frequency and frame timing of a transmitter of non-HT PPDU 510 and to adjust the receiver signal gain. The L-LTF may be used by the receiver of non-HT PPDU 510 to estimate channel coefficients in order to equalize the channel response (e.g., amplitude and phase distortion) in both the L-SIG and the Data fields of non-HT PPDU 510.

[0099] The L-SIG contains parameters needed to demodulate the Data field, which contains a payload of non-HT PPDU 510. The L-SIG may be equalized using the channel coefficients estimated using the L-LTF and demodulated to obtain the demodulation parameters of the Data field. The Data Field includes one or more symbols each having a duration of 4 pis, where 3.2 pis carry symbol information and 0.8 pis carry a Guard Interval (Gl).

[0100] For non-HT PPDUs, the only supported bandwidth is 20MHz, which is divided into 64 subcarriers. As such, non-HT PPDU 510 may be encoded using a subcarrier spacing of 20MHz / 64 or 312.5kHz.

[0101] HT mixed mode PPDU 520 may be used by STAs conforming to the IEEE 802.11 n standard amendment. HT mixed mode PPDU 520 can support MIMO to up to 4 spatial streams, which enhancesspectral efficiency four folds. HT mixed mode PPDU 520 has a minimum preamble duration of 35.6 pis, which may increase depending on the number of spatial streams carried by the PPDU.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 5, HT mixed mode PPDU 520 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an HT Signal field (HT-SIG) field, an HT Short Training field (HT-STF) field, one or more HT Long Training field (HT- LTF), and a data field. The HT-LTF and data fields include of one or more symbols each having a duration of 3.6 pis or 4 pis. In both cases, 3.2 pis carry symbol information while the remaining 0.4 pis or 0.8 pis carry a Gl. The 0.4 pis long Gl is called short Gl while the 0.8 pis long Gl is called regular or normal Gl.

[0103] For HT mixed mode PPDUs, two bandwidths, 20 MHz, and 140 MHz, may be supported. When the PPDU bandwidth is 20MHz, the band is divided into 64 subcarriers. When the PPDU bandwidth is 40 MHz, the band is divided into 128 subcarriers. In both cases, subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz is maintained.

[0104] VHT PPDU 530 may be used by STAs conforming to the IEEE 802.1 1 ac standard amendment. VHT PPDU 530 can support MIMO transmission to up to 8 spatial streams, which enhances spectral efficiency eight folds. VHT PPDU 530 has a minimum preamble duration of 39.6 pis, which may increase depending on the number of spatial streams carried by VHT PPDU 530.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 5, VHT PPDU 530 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, a VHT Signal A field (VHT-SIG-A), a VHT Short Training field (VHT-STF), one or more VHT Long Training field (VHT-LTF), a VHT Signal B field (VHT-SIG-B), and a Data field. The VHT-LTF and Data fields of VHT PPDU 530 include one or more symbols each having a duration of 3.6 pis or 4 pis. In both cases, 3.2 pis carry symbol information while the remaining 0.4 pis or 0.8 pis carry of the Gl. The 0.4 pis long Gl is called the Short Gl while the 0.8pis long is called regular or normal Gl.

[0106] For VHT PPDUs, four bandwidths, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz, may be supported. When the PPDU bandwidth is 20 MHz, the band is divided into 64 subcarriers. When the PPDU bandwidth is 40 MHz, the band is divided into 128 subcarriers. When the PPDU bandwidth is 80 MHz, the band is divided into 256 subcarriers. When the PPDU bandwidth is 160 MHz, the band is divided into two 256- subcarrier 80 MHz bands. In all cases, a subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz is maintained.

[0107] FIG. 6 illustrates a High Efficiency (HE) Single User (SU) PPDU 610, an HE Multi-User (MU) PPDU 620, and an HE Extended Range (ER) SU PPDU 630. HE SU PPDU 610, HE MU PPDU 620, and HE ER SU PPDU 630 may be used by STAs conforming to the IEEE 802.11ax standard amendment.

[0108] HE SU PPDU 610 supports higher spectral efficiency compared to VHT PPDU 530 due to increased subcarrier spacing and higherorder modulation support. HE SU PPDU 610 has a minimum preamble duration of 44 pis.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 6, HE SU PPDU 610 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, a Repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG), an HE Signal A field (HE-SIG-A), an HE Short Training field (HE-STF) field, one or more HE Long Training field (HE-LTF), a Data field, and a PE field.

[0110] Similar to HE SU PPDU 610, HE MU PPDU 620 supports higher spectral efficiency compared to VHT PPDU 530. HE MU PPDU 620 also supports OFDMA. Due to denser subcarrier spacing (as in HE SU PPDU 610), HE MU PPDU 620 allows for payloads of multiple users to be multiplexed in the frequency domain in the Data field. HE MU PPDU 620 supports multiplexing the payload of up to 9 users in a single 20 MHz band. HE MU PPDU 620 has a minimum preamble duration of 47.2 pis, which may increase depending on the number of spatial streams carried by HE MU PPDU 620.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 6, HE MU PPDU 620 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an RL-SIG, an HE- SIG-A, an HE Signal B Field (HE-SIG-B), an HE-STF field, one or more HE-LTF field, a Data field, and a PE field. It is noted that compared to HE SU PPDU 610, HE MU PPDU 620 further includes HE-SIG-B. HE-SIG- B contains indications per STA of RU allocations. A STA may use the indications in HE-SIG-B to locate its payload in HE MU PPDU 620.

[0112] For HE SU PPDU 610 and HE MU PPDU 620, the Gl portion of the HE-LTF and Data field may be one of one of 0.8 pis, 1 .6 pis, and 3.2 pis. An AP or STA may use a suitable Gl duration depending on the channel conditions or capability of the target STA or AP.

[0113] For both HE SU PPDU 610 and HE MU PPDU 620, the information portion of the HE-LTF may be one of 3.2 pis, 6.4 pis, or 12.8 pis. Depending on the information portion duration, a subcarrier spacing of the HE-LTF may be one of: 312.5 kHz if the information potion is 3.2 ps, 156.25 kHz if the information portion is 6.4 ps, and 78.125 kHz if the information portion is 12.8 ps. Unlike the HE-LTF, the information portion of the Data field for both HE SU PPDU 610 and HE MU PPDU 620 is always 12.8 ps. Hence, a subcarrier spacing of the Data field is always 78.125 kHz corresponding to the duration of the information portion being 12.8 ps. When a 3 2 ps or 6.4 ps long HE-LTF is used by a transmitting STA to transmit HE SU PPDU 610 or HE MU PPDU 620, a receiving STA is required to interpolate the channel estimates to a subcarrier spacing resolution of 78.125 kHz to match the subcarrier spacing of the Data field.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 6, HE ER SU PPDU 630 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an RL-SIG, an HE-SIG-A, an HE-STF, one or more HE-LTF, a Data field, and a PE field. It is noted that compared to HE SU PPDU 610, HE ER SU PPDU 630 has an HE-SIG-A that is duplicated in the time domain (16 ps long instead of 8 ps long in HE SU PPDU 610). As such, both L-SIG (duplicated using RL-SIG) and HE-SIG-A are sent in duplicates, which allows a receiving STA to combine the two copies to increase the energy of the received signal. This results in an extended range of reception and increases transmission reliability between the transmitting STA and the receiving STA.

[0115] FIG. 7 illustrates an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Multi-user (MU) PPDU 700. EHT MU PPDU 700 supports OFDMA up to a bandwidth of 320 MHz. EHT MU PPDU 700 can improve spectral efficiency due to support of a higher order modulation compared to other PPDUs (e.g., HE SU PPDU 610 and HE MU PPDU 620) while supporting the same number of spatial streams. EHT MU PPDU 700 has a minimumpreamble duration of 47.2 pis, which may increase depending on the number of spatial streams carried by EHT MU PPDU 700.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 7, EHT MU PPDU 700 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an RL-SIG, a Universal Signal field (U-SIG), an EHT Signal field (EHT-SIG), an EHT Short Training Field (EHT-STF), one or more EHT Long Training fields (EHT-LTF), a Data field, and a PE field. It is noted that according to the IEEE 802.1 1 be standard amendment, EHT MU PPDU 700 may be used by a transmitting STA for both SU and MU transmissions. Ultra-High Reliability (UHR) MU PPDU may be similar to EHT MU PPDU 700 (e.g., may contain EHT / UHR modulated fields (EHT-STF and beyond) and non-EHT / UHR modulated fields (L-STF to EHT-SIG)).

[0117] The U-SIG is intended to ensure forward compatibility of EHT MU PPDU 700. This means that any future PPDUs that are backward compatible to IEEE 802.11 be will contain the same U-SIG field and interpretation. Because of this, IEEE 802.1 1 be STAs will be able to understand at least in part a PPDU developed in a future amendment.

[0118] The EHT-SIG contains indications per STA of resource unit (RU) allocations. A STA may use the indications in the EHT-SIG to locate its payload in EHT MU PPDU 700.

[0119] The Gl portion of the EHT-LTF and Data fields of EHT MU PPDU 700 may be one of: 0.8 pis, 1.6 pis, or 3.2 pis. An AP or STA may use a suitable Gl duration depending on the channel conditions or capability of the target STA or AP.

[0120] The information portion of the EHT-LTF may be one of 3.2 pis, 6.4 pis, or 12.8 pis. Depending on the information portion duration, a subcarrier spacing of the EHT-LTF may be one of: 312.5 kHz if the information potion is 3.2 pis, 156.25 kHz if the information portion is 6.4 pis, or 78.125 kHz if the information portion is 12.8 pis. The information portion of the Data field of EHT MU PPDU 700 is always 12.8 pis. Hence, a subcarrier spacing of the Data field is always 78.125 kHz corresponding to the duration of the information portion being 12.8 pis. When a 3.2 pis long or a 6.4 pis long EHT-LTF is used by a transmitting STA to transmit EHT MU PPDU 700, a receiving STA is required to interpolate the channel estimates to a subcarrier spacing resolution of 78.125 kHz to match the Data field subcarrier spacing.

[0121] FIG. 8 illustrates examples of trigger-based (TB) PPDUs which may be used by a STA for UL OFDMA or UL MU MIMO. HE TB PPDU 810 may be used by a STA conforming to the IEEE 802.11 ax standard amendment. HE TB PPDU 810 shares the high spectral efficiency of HE SU PPDU 610 and HE MU PPDU 620 described with FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 8, HE TB PPDU 810 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, a Repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG), an HE-SIG-A, an HE-STF, one or more HE-LTF, a Data field, and a PE field. It is noted that compared to HE SU PPDU 610, HE TB PPDU 810 has a double duration HE-STF (8 pis instead of 4 pis). This improves time and carrier frequency synchronization needed to receive a TB PPDU such as HE TB PPDU 810.

[0122] UHR TB PPDU may be similar to HE / EHT TB PPDU (e.g., may contain HE / EHT / UHR modulated fields (HE-STF / EHT-STF and beyond) and non-HE / EHT / UHR modulated fields (L-STF to HE-SIG-A / U-SIG)).

[0123] The Gl portion of the HE-LTF and Data field of HE TB PPDU 810 may be one of: 0.8 ps, 1.6 ps, or 3.2 ps. An AP or a STA may use a suitable Gl duration depending on the channel conditions or capability of the target STA or AP.

[0124] The information portion of the HE-LTF of HE TB PPDU 810 may be one of: 3.2 ps, 6.4 ps, or 12.8 ps. Depending on the information portion duration, a subcarrier spacing of the HE-LTF may be one of: 312.5 kHz if the information potion is 3.2 ps, 156.25 kHz if the information portion is 6.4 ps, or 78.125 kHz if the information portion is 12.8 ps.

[0125] The information portion of the Data field of HE TB PPDU 810 is always 12.8 ps. Hence, a subcarrier spacing of the Data field is always 78.125 kHz corresponding to the duration of the information portion being 12.8 ps.

[0126] When a 3.2 ps long or a 6.4 ps long HE-LTF is used by a transmitting STA to transmit HE TB PPDU 810, a receiving STA is required to interpolate the channel estimates to a subcarrier spacing resolution of 78.125 kHz to match the Data field subcarrier spacing.

[0127] EHT TB PPDU 820 may be used by a STA conforming to the IEEE 802.11 be standard amendment. As shown in FIG. 8, EHT TB PPDU 820 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an RL-SIG, a U-SIG, an EHT-STF, one or more EHT-LTF, a Data field, and a PE field.

[0128] Similar to HE TB PPDU 810, the Gl portion of the Data field of EHT TB PPDU 820 can be one of: 0.8 ps, 1 .6 ps, or 3.2 ps. In consequence, the non-GI portion of the Data Field, which has a fixed duration of 12.8 ps, may have a duration of 13.6 ps, 14.4 ps, or 16 ps. An AP or STA may use a suitable Gl depending on the channel conditions or capability of the target STA or AP. The subcarrier spacing at the Data field is equal to 78.125 kHz regardless of PPDU bandwidth.

[0129] The non-GI portion of the EHT-LTF of EHT TB PPDU 820 may be 3.2 ps, 6.4 ps or 12.8 ps long. This results in a subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz, 156.25 kHz, or 78.125 kHz, respectively. When a 3.2 ps long or a 6.4 ps long EHT-LTF is used by a transmitting STA, a receiving STA is required to interpolate the channel estimates to a subcarrier spacing resolution of 78.125 kHz to match the Data field subcarrier spacing.

[0130] As mentioned above, HE-LTFs in HE PPDUs such as HE SU PPDU 610, HE MU PPDU 620, HE ER SU PPDU 630, and HE TB PPDU 810 may be transmitted using a subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz (information duration of 3.2 ps) or a subcarrier spacing of 156.25 kHz (information duration of 6.4 ps), instead of a subcarrier spacing of 78.125 kHz (information duration of 12.8 ps).

[0131] Similarly, EHT-LTFs in EHT PPDUs such as EHT MU PPDU 700 and EHT TB PPDU 820 may be transmitted using a subcarrier spacing of 312.5 kHz (information duration of 3.2 ps) or a subcarrier spacing of 156.25 kHz (information duration of 6.4 ps), instead of a subcarrier spacing of 78.125 kHz (information duration of 12.8 ps).

[0132] An HE-LTF or an EHT-LTF with a subcarrier spacing of 78.125 kHz (e.g., equal to the subcarrier spacing of the Data field) increases decoding accuracy but results in a larger overhead especially when the PPDU includes several HE-LTFs or EHT-LTFs. Using an HE-LTF or an EHT-LTF with a larger subcarrier spacing reduces the overhead. However, a larger subcarrier spacing may require an interpolation circuitry at the receiver to generate intermediate channel estimates for subcarriers present in the Data field that are not present in the HE-LTF or EHT-LTF. In addition to increasing receiver complexity and cost, an interpolation circuit may degrade performance due to processing noise added by the interpolation step.

[0133] FIG. 9 illustrates an example trigger frame 900. Trigger frame 900 may correspond to a basic trigger frame as defined in the existing IEEE 802.1 1 ax standard amendment. Trigger frame 900 may be used by an AP to allocate resources for and solicit one or more TB PPDU transmissions from one or more STAs. Trigger frame 900 may also carry other information required by a responding STA to transmit a TB PPDU to the AP.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 9, trigger frame 900 includes a Frame Control field, a Duration field, a receiver address (RA) field, a transmitter address (TA) field, a Common Info field, a User List Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field.

[0135] The Frame Control field includes the following subfields: protocol version, type, subtype, To DS, From DS, more fragments, retry, power management, more data, protected frame, and +HTC.

[0136] The Duration field indicates various contents depending on frame type and subtype and the QoS capabilities of the sending STA. For example, in control frames of the power save poll (PS-Poll) subtype, the Duration field carries an association identifier (AID) of the STA that transmitted the frame in the 16 least significant bits (LSB), and the 2 most significant bits (MSB) are both set to 1 . In other frames sent by STAs, the Duration field contains a duration value (in microseconds) which is used by a recipient to update a network allocation vector (NAV).

[0137] The RA field is the address of the STA that is intended to receive the incoming transmission from the transmitting station. The TA field is the address of the STA transmitting trigger frame 900 if trigger frame 900 is addressed to STAs that belong to a single BSS. The TA field is the transmitted BSSID if the trigger frame 900 is addressed to STAs from at least two different BSSs of the multiple BSSID set.

[0138] The common info field may have a format as illustrated by common info field 1000 described further below. The common info field specifies a trigger frame type of trigger frame 900, a transmit power of trigger frame 900 in dBm, and several key parameters of a TB PPDU that is transmitted by a STA in response to trigger frame 900. The trigger frame type of a trigger frame used by an AP to receive QoS data using UL MU operation is referred to as a basic trigger frame.

[0139] The User List Info field contains a User Info field per STA addressed in trigger frame 900. The per STA User Info field includes, among others, an AID subfield, an RU Allocation subfield, a Spatial Stream (SS) Allocation subfield, an MCS subfield to be used by a STA in a TB PPDU transmitted in response to trigger frame 900, and a Trigger Dependent User Info subfield. The Trigger Dependent User Info subfield can beused by an AP to specify a preferred access category (AC) per STA. The preferred AC sets the minimum priority AC traffic that can be sent by a participating STA. The AP determines the list of participating STAs, along with the BW, MCS, RU allocation, SS allocation, Tx power, preferred AC, and maximum duration of the TB PPDU per participating STA.

[0140] The Padding field is optionally present in trigger frame 900 to extend the frame length to give recipient STAs enough time to prepare a response for transmission one SIFS (short interframe spacing) after the frame is received. The Padding field, if present, is at least two octets in length and is set to all 1s.

[0141] The FCS field is used by a STA to validate a received frame and to interpret certain fields from the MAC headers of a frame.

[0142] FIG. 10 illustrates an example Common Info field 1000. Common Info field 1000 may be an embodiment of the Common Info field of trigger frame 900 or an MU-RTS trigger frame, for example. As shown in FIG. 10, Common Info field 1000 may include a Trigger Type subfield, a UL Length subfield, a More TF subfield, a CS required subfield, a UL BW subfield, a Gl and HE / EHT-LTF Type / Triggered TXS Mode subfield, a first Reserved subfield, a Number of HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield, a second Reserved subfield, an LDPC Extra Symbol Segment subfield, an AP Tx Power subfield, a Pre-FEC Padding Factor subfield, a PE Disambiguity subfield, an UL Spatial Reuse subfield, a third Reserved subfield, an HE / EHT P160 subfield, a Special User Info Field Flag subfield, an EHT Reserved subfield, a fourth Reserved subfield, and a Trigger Dependent Common Info subfield. The Trigger Type subfield, UL Length subfield, More TF subfield, CS required subfield, UL BW subfield, Gl and HE-LTF Type / Triggered TXS Mode subfield, first Reserved subfield, Number of HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield, second Reserved subfield, LDPC Extra Symbol Segment subfield, AP Tx Power subfield, Pre-FEC Padding Factor subfield, PE Disambiguity subfield, UL Spatial Reuse subfield, third Reserved subfield, HE / EHT P160 subfield, Special User Info Field Flag subfield, EHT Reserved subfield, fourth Reserved subfield, and Trigger Dependent Common Info subfield may have the same content and interpretation as corresponding subfields of an EHT variant Common Info field defined in the IEEE 802.11 be draft amendment (“IEEE P802.11 be / D3.1 , March 2023").

[0143] FIG. 11 illustrates an example management frame 1 100 which may be used as an action frame. In an example, management frame 1100 includes a MAC header, a variable length frame body, and a frame check sequence (FCS). The MAC header includes a frame control field, a duration field, an address 1 field, an address 2 field, an address 3 field, a sequence control field, and an optional HT control field. The presence of the HT control field is determined by the setting of a +HTC subfield of the frame control field.

[0144] As shown in FIG. 1 1 , when used as an action frame, the frame body of management frame includes an action field, vendor specific elements, management message integrity code element (MME), message integrity code (MIC), and an authenticated mesh peering exchange element.

[0145] The action field includes a category field and an action details field. The action field provides a mechanism for specifying extended management actions. The category field indicates a category of the action frame The action details field contains the details of the action requested by the action frame.

[0146] The MME is present when management frame protection is negotiated, the frame is a group addressed robust Action frame, and (MBSS only) the category of the action frame does not support group addressed privacy as indicated by category values; otherwise not present.

[0147] The MIC element is present in a self-protected action frame if a shared pairwise master key (PMK) exists between the sender and recipient of this frame; otherwise not present.

[0148] The authenticated mesh peering exchange element is present in a self-protected action frame if a shared PMK exists between the sender and recipient of this frame; otherwise not present.

[0149] FIG. 12 shows an example 1200 that illustrates use of a TB PPDU. As shown in FIG. 12, example 1200 includes an AP 1241 and a plurality of STAs 1252-1 to 1252-8.

[0150] In an example, AP 1241 may transmit an HE MU PPDU 1210 to STAs 1252-1 to 1252-8. In an example, to reduce protocol overhead, HE MU PPDU 1210 may aggregate within the same MU PPDU both TFs and BA frames. For example, HE MU PPDU 1210 may include a plurality of BA frames transmitted respectively in response to a plurality of TB PPDUs (not shown in FIG. 12) transmitted by STAs 1252-1 to 1252-8. In addition, HE MU PPDU 1210 may include a plurality of TFs soliciting UL frames from STAs 1252- 1 to 1252-8.

[0151] STAs 1252-1 to 1252-8 may respond simultaneously to HE MU PPDU 1210 by each transmitting an MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220. In an example, MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220 may have an 80 MHz bandwidth. As shown in FIG. 12, a STA 1252 may duplicate four times over frequency each of fields L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and EHT-STF to fill out the 80 MHz bandwidth. EHT-LTFs 1240 and a data field 1250 of PPDU 1220 may fill out the entire 80 MHz bandwidth and are not duplicated over frequency. The number of EHT-LTFs transmitted by the STA (in time) is based on the number of users accessing the channel using MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220. In example 1200, MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220 includes eight EHT-LTFs 1240-1 to 1240-8.

[0152] AP 1241 may acknowledge MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220 by transmitting HE MU PPDU 1230. Like HE MU PPDU 1210, HE MU PPDU 1230 may aggregate both TFs (soliciting further UL frames from STAs 1252- 1 to 1252-8) and BA frames (acknowledging the TB PPDUs contained in MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220).

[0153] In an example 1200, it is assumed that PPDUs 1210, 1220, and 1230 are all transmitted using a bandwidth of 80 MHz. Further, EHT-LTFs 1240-1 to 1240-8 of MU MIMO TB PPDU 1220 use the same subcarrier spacing (78.125 kHz) as data field 1250 of TB PPDU 1220. As such, each EHT-LTF 1240-1 to 1240-8 has a 16 pis duration.

[0154] As shown in FIG. 12, the total access latency of a STA 1252 is equal to the combined duration of an HE MU PPDU (e.g., 1210), a SIFS duration, and a TB PPDU (e.g., 1220). To reduce the access latency, theHE MU PPDU may be replaced with a single spatial stream EHT MU PPDU in order to avoid a long string of EHT-LTFs in the time domain. On the other hand, the same cannot be done with MU-MIMO TB PPDU 1220, which is a multiple spatial stream PPDU. This results in a large overhead due to the EHT-LTFs 1240 of TB PPDU 1220. For example, in the case of 8 UL STAs, the total overhead due to the EHT-LTFs is 128 pis. In some scenarios, such as real time control where the payload can fit in a single 16 pis data field, a total EHT- LTF duration of 128 pis per 8 STA is highly inefficient.

[0155] The IEEE 802.11 standard provides the RU indices and subcarrier ranges for RUs, for different RU type and PPDU bandwidth combinations. For example, for a 52-tone RU and a 20 MHz PPDU bandwidth, the PPDU may have four RUs, indexed RU 1 , RU 2, RU 3, and RU 4. RU 1 corresponds to the subcarrier range [-121 :-70], RU 2 corresponds to the subcarrier range [-68:-17], RU 3 corresponds to the subcarrier range [17:68], and RU 4 corresponds to the subcarrier range [70:121 ], For example, an allocation comprising RU 1 , RU 2, RU 3, and RU 4 may be as illustrated in FIG. 13. As shown, RU 1 , RU 2, RU 3, and RU 4 each includes a contiguous set of tones over a respective part of the PPDU bandwidth. The respective parts of the PPDU bandwidth covered by different RUs are non-overlapping and may be separated from one another by one or more null tones. In the case that a PPDU comprises a single RU, the set of tones of the RU cover the entire PPDU bandwidth.

[0156] The existing IEEE 802.11 standard defines only RUs including contiguous sets of tones (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 13). Such RUs are hereinafter referred to as non-distributed RUs. U.S. Patent 11 ,044,057 proposes an RU, called distributed RU, that includes a non-contiguous set of tones spread over the PPDU bandwidth. An example allocation of distributed RUs is shown in FIG. 14. As shown, rather than an RU being composed of a contiguous set of tones that cover a respective part only of the PPDU bandwidth, a distributed RU includes a non-contiguous set of tones that may be spread over the entire bandwidth of the PPDU.

[0157] Spreading the RU over the entire PPDU bandwidth decreases the power spectral density (PSD) of the PPDU. This may enable the device (e.g., AP or STA) transmitting the PPDU to operate in spectrum parts having more stringent PSD requirements. For example, expanded unlicensed use of the 6 Gigahertz Band permits operation over an additional 1.2 GHz of bandwidth (operating bands U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 GHz), U- NII-6 (6.425-6.525 GHz), U-NII-7 (6.525-6.875 GHz), and U-NII-8 (6.875-7.125 GHz)) under low power indoor (LPI) PSD requirements (5 dBm / MHz for an AP and -I dBm / MHz for a STA). Alternatively, or additionally, the device may leverage the lower PSD resulting from the use of distributed RUs to increase the transmit power of the PPDU. This may be particularly useful in UL MU OFDMA as it would allow each transmitting STA to boost its transmit power, resulting in higher received powers for all tones and a significantly enhanced overall spectrum efficiency.

[0158] FIG. 15 illustrates an example 1500 of an operation using distributed RUs. As shown in FIG. 15, example 1500 includes AP 1502 and STAs 1504 and 1506. AP 1502 may belong to a first BSS. STAs 1504 and 1506 may be associated with AP 1502 and may thus belong to the first BSS. In example 1500, it isassumed that AP 1502 and STAs 1504 and 1506 belong to an overlapping BSS (OBSS) relative to AP 1502. Hence, AP 1502, STA 1504, and STA 1506 are referred to respectively as OBSS AP 1502, OBSS STA 1504, and OBSS STA 1506 in example 1500.

[0159] Example 1500 may begin with OBSS AP 1502 transmitting a trigger frame 1510. Trigger frame 1510 may be similar to trigger frame 800. In example 1500, trigger frame 1510 may solicit an uplink MU transmission from OBSS STAs 1504 and 1506 as described above in FIG. 6. The uplink MU transmission may comprise simultaneous transmissions by OBSS STAs 1504 and 1506 of respective TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514. The uplink MU transmission may be associated with a frequency channel bandwidth over which TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 are transmitted. Trigger frame 1510 may thus comprise an RU allocation for OBSS STAs 1504 and 1506 to transmit TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 to OBSS AP 1502. The RU allocation may allocate one or more distributed RUs to each of OBSS STAs 1504 and 1506. In example 1500, the RU allocation may allocate a first distributed RU (DRU 1) to OBSS STA 1504 and a second distributed RU (DRU 2) to OBSS STA 1506. DRU 1 and DRU 2 may be as illustrated in FIG. 14 described above. Specifically, each of DRU 1 and DRU 2 may comprise a non-contiguous set of tones that may be spread over the entire frequency channel bandwidth associated with the uplink MU transmission.

[0160] In response to trigger frame 1510, OBSS STAs 1504 and 1506 may transmit respectively TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514. In an example, as shown in FIG. 15, TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may each comprise a nondistributed resource portion (non-DRU portion) and a distributed resource portion (DRU portion). The non- DRU portion of TB PPDU 1512 (or TB PPDU 1514) may comprise a preamble portion of TB PPDU 1512 (or TB PPDU 1514). The DRU portion of TB PPDU 1512 (or TB PPDU 1514) may comprise a data portion (comprising a data field) of TB PPDU 1512 (or TB PPDU 1514) In an example, TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may be ultra-high reliability (UHR) TB PPDUs used by UHR devices according to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0161] In an example, the DRU portions of TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may be transmitted over respectively DRU 1 and DRU 2 as indicated by trigger frame 1510. In an example, the non-DRU portion of TB PPDU 1512 (and / or TB PPDU 1514) may be transmitted over one or more non-distributed RUs. The one or more non-distributed RUs may correspond respectively to one or more contiguous sets of resources that may cover respectively one or more parts of the frequency channel bandwidth of the uplink MU transmission. For example, the one or more non-distributed RUs may be as illustrated in FIG. 14 described above. In an example, the non-DRU portions of TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may be transmitted over the same or frequency overlapping non-distributed RUs. In another example, the non-DRU portions of TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may be transmitted over different or frequency non-overlapping non-distributed RUs. In an example, trigger frame 1510 may indicate the one or more non-distributed RUs for transmission of the non-DRU portions of TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514. In another example, the non-DRU portions of TB PPDUs 1512 and 1514 may be transmitted over the entire frequency channel bandwidth of the uplink MU transmission.

[0162] As described above, spreading the RU over the entire PPDU bandwidth decreases the power spectral density (PSD) of the PPDU, which enables the device (e.g., AP or STA) transmitting the PPDU to operate in spectrum parts having more stringent PSD requirements. Alternatively, or additionally, the device may leverage the lower PSD resulting from the use of distributed RUs to increase the transmit power of the PPDU.

[0163] In an implementation, the set of contiguous tones of an RU may include 26 tones (26-tone RU) within a 2 MHz frequency subband (13 tones / MHz), 52 tones (52-tone RU) within a 4 MHz frequency subband, 106 tones (106-tone RU) within a 10 MHz frequency subband, or 242 tones (242-tone RU) within a 20 MHz frequency subband. Assuming that the 26-tone RU may be spread over 40 MHz (with a uniform tone distance of 1406.25 KHz), the resulting DRU may have no more than one tone per MHz. Similarly, if the 52-tone RU may be spread over 80 MHz (with a uniform tone distance of 1406.25 KHz); the 106-tone RU may be spread over 160 MHz (with a uniform tone distance of 1406.25 KHz); and the 256-tone RU may be spread over 320 MHz (with a uniform tone distance of 1406.25 KHz), the resulting DRU may have no more than one tone per MHz. By reducing the number of tones per MHz from 13 tones / MHz to one or less than one tone per MHz, a maximum transmit power boost may be achieved. In some implementations of the IEEE 802.11 standard, the maximum transmit power boost may be equal to 10 log(13) or 1 1.14 dB.

[0164] In practice, the device (AP or STA) may be restricted by the maximum spreading bandwidth that the device may use. For example, the device may be restricted to a 20 MHz spreading bandwidth. Spreading the 26-tone RU (or the 52-tone RU, the 106-tone RU, or the 256-tone RU) over 20 MHz (with a uniform tone distance of approximately 703.125 KHz) may result in a DRU with more than one tone per MHz. With the number of tones per MHz being greater than 1 , the achievable transmit power boost may be lower than the maximum transmit power boost of 11 .14 dB by at least 3 dB transmit power boost. In an implementation, the transmit power boost achieved by spreading an RU may be represented by 10 log (13 / n), where n is the number of tones per MHz of resulting DRU.

[0165] FIG. 16 illustrates an example 1600 that highlights a problem that may arise in a WLAN communication environment. As shown in FIG. 16, example 1600 includes an AP 1602 and a STA 1604. STA 1604 may be associated with AP 1602. It is assumed in example 1600 that STA 1604 supports RU spreading. For example, STA 1604 may be capable of spreading a non-distributed RU over a spreading bandwidth indicated by AP 1602.

[0166] In an example, STA 1604 may be within the communication range of AP 1602. AP 1602 may transmit to STA 1604 a trigger frame that allocates an RU for uplink transmission by STA 1604 to AP 1602. For example, the RU may be a 26-tone RU. The trigger frame may further indicate an uplink bandwidth (e.g., in a common info field of the trigger frame as shown in FIG. 10) for use by STA 1604. For example, the uplink bandwidth may be equal to 20 MHz. STA 1604 may use the allocated 26-tone RU to transmit an uplink frameto AP 1602. In an example, the 26-tone RU corresponds to a 2 MHz sub-band of the 20 MHz uplink bandwidth.

[0167] In an example, based on a received signal strength of the uplink frame being lower than a threshold, AP 1602 may indicate to STA 1604 to apply RU spreading to boost the transmit power of uplink frame transmissions to AP 1602. In an example, based on the indication from AP 1602, STA 1604 may spread an allocated 26-tone RU over the 20 MHz uplink bandwidth to transmit a subsequent uplink frame to AP 1602. However, due to the uplink bandwidth being limited to 20 MHz, and the fact that STA 1604 may only spread a 26-tone RU into a corresponding 26-tone DRU, the achievable power boost may be limited to 8.13 dB as described above. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 16, this power boost may not be sufficient for AP 1602 to receive and successfully decode uplink frames from STA 1604.

[0168] Embodiments of the present disclosure, as further described below, address the above-described problem In an aspect, a STA receives from an AP, a first frame comprising an allocation of a resource unit (RU) comprising one or more first tones and one or more second tones. In response to the first frame, the STA transmits to the AP a second frame via the RU, with a first transmit power of a first tone of the one or more first tones being different than a second transmit power of a second tone of the one or more second tones. In an embodiment, the second transmit power is lower than the first transmit power, allowing the STA to increase the first transmit power without violating a PSD limit. In an embodiment, the second transmit power may be equal to zero. In an embodiment, the first frame may further indicate an RU tone distribution. The RU tone distribution indicates a subset of tones of the RU (e.g., the one or more first tones) for which the STA applies the first transmit power. The RU tone distribution may comprise a starting tone and a tone distance, where the starting tone corresponds to either a lowest frequency or a highest frequency tone and the tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU distribution.

[0169] In an embodiment, by applying an RU tone distribution as described herein, the STA may achieve an RU spreading factor greater than the spreading factor achieved by only spreading the RU over the entire uplink bandwidth. This is achievable without the need to use a greater uplink bandwidth (which may be restricted by the AP) and without the need to spread the RU into a smaller size DRU. The latter point is significant because for certain RU sizes (e.g., 26-tone RU), a smaller size RU does not exist according to the existing IEEE 802.11 standard. Embodiments thus allow to increase the transmit power boost without the complexity to introduce one or more new smaller size RUs into the existing 802.1 1 standard (e.g , the introduction of such smaller size RUs, in addition to the required tone placement investigations, may exponentially increase an RU index table volume, increase memory requirements at the AP / STA, and may translate the complexity into different levels of data processing.)

[0170] FIG. 17 illustrates an example 1700 of an operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, example 1700 includes a STA 1702 and a STA 1704. Each of STAs 1702 and 1704 may be a non-APSTA or an AP STA. In an embodiment, STA 1702 may be an AP STA and STA 1704 may be a non-AP STA. In this embodiment, STA 1704 may be associated with STA 1702.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 17, example 1700 may include STA 1702 transmitting to STA 1704 a frame 1706. Frame 1706 may allocate an RU to STA 1704. In an embodiment, frame 1706 may comprise a trigger frame as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. The trigger frame may be a basic trigger frame, a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) trigger, an MU-RTS frame. In an embodiment, the allocated RU may be indicated in an RU Allocation subfield of a User Info Field of the trigger frame. The User Info Field may comprise an AID12 subfield indicating an address of STA 1704. In an embodiment, the RU may be a distributed RU (DRU) as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0172] In response to frame 1706, STA 1704 may transmit to STA 1702 a frame 1708 via the allocated RU. In an embodiment, in transmitting frame 1708, STA 1704 may use or apply a first transmit power to one or more first tones of the RU and a second transmit power to one or more second tones of the RU. In an embodiment, the first transmit power is different than the second transmit power. In an embodiment, the first transmit power is higher than the second transmit power. In an embodiment, the second transmit power is a percentage of the first transmit power. The percentage may range between 0 and 100. In an embodiment, the second transmit power is equal to zero. In an embodiment where the second transmit power is equal to zero, STA 1704 may null the one or more second tones or may not transmit via the one or more second tones.

[0173] In an embodiment, before transmitting frame 1708, STA 1704 may determine an RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the RU tone distribution comprises a subset of tones of the RU. In an embodiment, the RU tone distribution comprises a starting tone and a tone distance. The starting tone may correspond to a lowest frequency tone or a highest frequency tone in the RU . The tone distance may correspond to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU distribution. In another embodiment, the RU tone distribution may correspond to a subset of tones of the RU with non-uniform tone distance between consecutive tones.

[0174] In an embodiment, STA 1704 may determine the RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance. The minimum tone distance may correspond to a minimum distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU distribution. For example, for a 26-tone RU with 26 tones indexed from 0 to 25, the RU tone distribution may be determined on a minimum tone distance of 9. As such, the RU tone distribution may comprise the tones with indices 0, 10, and 20, or the tones with indices 1 , 11 , and 21 , etc.

[0175] In an embodiment, STA 1704 may determine the RU tone distribution but may not indicate the determined RU tone distribution to STA 1702. In such an embodiment, STA 1702 may be configured to determine / detect the RU tone distribution applied by STA 1704 based on receiving frame 1708. In another embodiment, frame 1706 may comprise / indicate the RU tone distribution.

[0176] In an embodiment, STA 1704 may determine the one or more first tones and the one or more second tones of the RU based on the RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the one or more first tones correspond to tones of the RU that belong to the RU tone distribution, and the one or more second tones correspond to tones of the RU that do not belong to the RU tone distribution. For instance, with reference to the example above with a 26-tone RU and a minimum tone distance of 9, the one or more first tones may correspond to the tones with indices 0, 10, and 20, and the one or more second tones may correspond to the tones with indices 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 , 22, 23, 24, and 25. In an embodiment, the one or more first tones comprise odd tones of the RU, and the one or more second tones comprise even tones of the RU, and vice versa.

[0177] FIG. 18 illustrates an example 1800 of another operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, example 1800 also includes STA 1702 and STA 1704 described in FIG. 17 above. Example 1800 is similar to example 1700 described above. In addition, example 1800 includes STA 1702 transmitting a frame 1802 to STA 1704. In an embodiment, frame 1802 may comprise or indicate the RU tone distribution that is applied by STA 1704 to transmit frame 1708. In embodiments, frame 1802 may be a control frame or a management frame (e.g., action frame). In an embodiment, STA 1702 may be an AR STA, and frame 1802 may be a beacon frame, an association response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to an association request frame from STA 1704, or a probe response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to a probe request frame from STA 1704. In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 18, STA 1702 may transmit frame 1802 to STA 1704 before transmitting frame 1706 to STA 1704. In another embodiment (not shown in FIG. 18), STA 1702 may transmit frame 1802 to STA 1704 after transmitting frame 1706 to STA 1704.

[0178] FIG. 19 illustrates an example 1900 of another operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, example 1900 also includes STA 1702 and STA 1704 described in FIG. 17 above. Example 1900 may include STA 1704 transmitting a frame 1904 comprising / indicating an RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, frame 1904 may be an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame.

[0179] In an embodiment, example 1900 may further include STA 1704 determining the RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, STA 1704 may determine the RU tone distribution by selecting the RU tone distribution from a set of RU tone distributions. In an embodiment, the set of RU tone distributions are preconfigured at / within STA 1704. In another embodiment, STA 1704 may, optionally, receive from STA 1702 a frame 1902 indicating / comprising the set of RU tone distributions. In an embodiment, STA 1702 may be an AP STA, and frame 1902 may be a beacon frame, an association response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to an association request frame from STA 1704, or a probe response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to a probe request frame from STA 1704. In an embodiment, STA 1704 transmits frame 1904 in response to frame 1902.

[0180] In an embodiment, STA 1702 may, optionally, respond to frame 1904 by transmitting a frame 1906 to STA 1704. Frame 1906 may accept or reject the RU tone distribution indicated in frame 1904. In another embodiment, frame 1906 indicates a first RU tone distribution comprising one or more third tones from the RU. In an embodiment, the first RU tone distribution is based on the RU tone distribution indicated in frame 1904. For example, the first RU tone distribution may add or subtract tones from the RU tone distribution.

[0181] FIG. 20 illustrates an example 2000 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, example 2000 also includes STA 1702 and STA 1704 described in FIG. 17 above. In an embodiment, example 2000 includes STA 1702 transmitting to STA 1704 a frame 2002 indicating / comprising a first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, STA 1702 may be an AR STA, and frame 2002 may be a beacon frame, an association response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to an association request frame from STA 1704, or a probe response frame transmitted by STA 1702 in response to a probe request frame from STA 1704. In an embodiment, STA 1704 may determine an RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, determining the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution comprises adding or subtracting one or more tones from the first RU tone distribution. STA 1704 may then transmit to STA 1702 a frame 2004 comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, frame 2004 may be an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame.

[0182] In an embodiment, STA 1702 may, optionally, respond to frame 2004 by transmitting a frame 2006 to STA 1704. Frame 2006 may accept or reject the RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2004. In another embodiment, frame 2006 indicates a second RU tone distribution comprising one or more fourth tones from the RU. In an embodiment, the second RU tone distribution is based on the RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2004. For example, the second RU tone distribution may add or subtract tones from the RU tone distribution.

[0183] FIG. 21 illustrates an example 2100 of an RU tone distribution in accordance with an embodiment. Example 2100 may be based on the orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) architecture of the IEEE 802.11ax standard, where each subcarrier has a bandwidth of 78.125 KHz. As an example, it is assumed that a 26-tone DRU with a spreading BW of 20 MHz is assigned to a STA. The 26-tone DRU may comprise a first set of subcarriers 2102 and a second set of subcarriers 2104. A third set of subcarriers 2106 does not belong to the 26-tone DRU assigned to the STA. By transmitting over all of the 26 tones of the DRU, the STA may achieve an 8.13 dB transmit power boost compared to transmitting using a 26-tone nondistributed RU (as shown in FIG. 13). By transmitting over the first set of subcarriers 2102 and disab I i ng / excl ud ing / n u II in g the second set of subcarriers 2104, as shown in FIG. 21 , the transmit power may be boosted by 1 1 .14 dB to new power level of 2108 compared with restricted power level of 21 10 for 26 tones Non-distributed RU).

[0184] FIG. 22 illustrates an example process 2200 according to an embodiment. Example process 2200 is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not limiting embodiments. Example process 2200 may be performed by a first STA, such as STA 1704. As shown in FIG 22, process 2200 may include steps 2202 and 2204.

[0185] Step 2202 includes receiving, by the first STA from a second STA, a first frame comprising an allocation of a resource unit (RU) comprising one or more first tones and one or more second tones. In an embodiment, the RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU). The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones. In another embodiment, the RU comprises a non-distributed RU. The non-distributed RU may comprise a plurality of contiguous tones. In an embodiment, the first frame comprises a trigger frame.

[0186] Step 2204 includes, in response to the first frame, transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a second frame via the RU. In an embodiment, a first transmit power of a first tone of the one or more first tones may be different from a second transmit power of a second tone of the one or more second tones In an embodiment, the first transmit power is higher than the second transmit power. In another embodiment, the second transmit power is a percentage of the first transmit power, where the percentage ranges between 0 and 100. In another embodiment, the second transmit power is equal to zero. In another embodiment, transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, the second frame via the RU comprises not transmitting via the one or more second tones. In an embodiment, the one or more first tones comprise odd tones of the RU and the one or more second tones comprise even tones of the RU, or vice versa.

[0187] In an embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise determining, by the first STA, an RU tone distribution. The RU tone distribution may correspond to a subset of tones of the RU which the first STA determines / selects for transmission via the RU. In an embodiment, the RU tone distribution comprises a starting tone and a tone distance. The starting tone may correspond to a lowest frequency tone or to a highest frequency tone of in the RU. The tone distance may correspond to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU distribution. In an embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise determining, by the first STA, the one or more first tones and the one or more second tones based on the RU tone distribution.

[0188] In an embodiment, the first frame may indicate / comprise the RU tone distribution. In another embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution. The third frame may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0189] In another embodiment, the determining of the RU tone distribution comprises selecting, by the first STA, the RU tone distribution from a set of RU tone distributions. In an embodiment, the set of RU tone distributions may be pre-configured at the first STA. In another embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising the set of RU tone distributions.

[0190] In an embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a fourth frame comprising the RU tone distribution. The fourth frame may comprise an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. This embodiment may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a fifth frame accepting or rejecting the RU tone distribution. The fifth frame may comprise / indicate a first RU tone distribution based on the RU tone distribution. The first RU tone distribution may comprise one or more third tones from the RU.

[0191] In an embodiment, process 2200 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising / indicating a first RU tone distribution and determining, by the first STA, the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution. The determining of the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution may comprise adding or subtracting one or more tones from the first RU tone distribution.

[0192] In an embodiment, the determining of the RU tone distribution comprises determining the RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.

[0193] FIG. 23 illustrates an example process 2300 according to an embodiment. Example process 2300 is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not limiting embodiments. Example process 2300 may be performed by a second STA, such as STA 1702. As shown in FIG. 23, process 2300 may include steps 2302 and 2304.

[0194] Step 2302 includes transmitting, by the second to a first STA, a first frame allocating a resource unit (RU) to the first STA. The RU may comprise one or more first tones and one or more second tones. In an embodiment, the one or more first tones may comprise odd tones of the RU and the one or more second tones may comprise even tones of the RU, or vice versa. In an embodiment, the RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU). The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones. In another embodiment, the RU comprises a non-distributed RU. The non-distributed RU may comprise a plurality of contiguous tones. The first frame may comprise a trigger frame.

[0195] Step 2304 includes receiving, by the second STA from the first STA and in response to the first frame, a second frame based on an RU tone distribution applied by the first STA to the RU. In an embodiment, receiving, by the second STA from the first STA, the second frame via the RU comprises not receiving via the one or more first tone or via the one or more second tones of the RU. The RU tone distribution may correspond to a subset of tones of the RU which the first STA determines / selects for transmission via the RU. In an embodiment, the RU tone distribution comprises a starting tone and a tone distance. The starting tone may correspond to a lowest frequency tone or to a highest frequency tone of in the RU. The tone distance may correspond to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU distribution. In an embodiment, the first STA may determine the one or more first tones and the one or more second tones based on the RU tone distribution.

[0196] In an embodiment, the first frame may indicate / comprise the RU tone distribution. In another embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution. The third frame may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0197] In another embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising the set of RU tone distributions. In an embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise receiving, by the second STA from the first STA, a fourth frame comprising the RU tone distribution, where the RU tone distribution belongs to the set of RU tone distributions. The fourth frame may comprise an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. In an embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a fifth frame accepting or rejecting the RU tone distribution. The fifth frame may comprise / indicate a first RU tone distribution based on the RU tone distribution. The first RU tone distribution may comprise one or more third tones from the RU.

[0198] In an embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising / indicating a first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, process 2300 may further comprising receiving, by the second STA from the first STA, a fourth frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution. The first STA may determine the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the first STA may determine the RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.

[0199] In an embodiment, process 2300 may further comprise determining, by the second STA, based on the second frame, one or more first tones of the RU having a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) greater than or equal to a first power level and one or more second tones of the RU having an RSSI lower than the first power level. The second STA may determine the RU tone distribution applied by the first STA based on the determined one or more first tones and one or more second tones. For example, the RU tone distribution may comprise or correspond to the one or more first tones having an RSSI greater than or equal to the first power level.

[0200] FIG. 24 illustrates an example 2400 of another transmission operation that may be used by a device to boost its transmit power. As shown in FIG. 24, example 2400 includes an AR 2402 and STAs 2404 and 2406. STAs 2404 and or 2406 may be associated with AR 2402. It is assumed in example 2400 that STAs 2404 and 2406 support RU spreading. For example, STAs 2404 and 2406 may be capable of spreading a non-distributed RU or a DRU over a spreading bandwidth indicated by AP 2402.

[0201] In example 2400, AP 2402 may allocate an RU to STA 2404 for an uplink transmission by STA 2404 to AP 2402. AP 2402 may further indicate to STA 2404 an uplink bandwidth for use by STA 2404. For example, the allocated RU may be a 26-tone RU, and the uplink bandwidth may be equal to 28 MHz. In an example, the allocated RU may correspond to a 2 MHz sub-band of the 28 MHz uplink bandwidth.

[0202] In an example, to boost its transmit power for the uplink transmission to AP 2402, STA 2404 may determine to use RU spreading for the uplink transmission to AP 2402. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, STA 2404 may spread the allocated RU over the uplink bandwidth to generate an RU 2408. For example, based on the allocated RU being a 26-tone RU occupying a 2 MHz sub-band of a 28 MHz uplink bandwidth, RU 2408 may be a 26-tone DRU spread over the 28 MHz uplink bandwidth.

[0203] However, the power boost achievable using RU spreading is limited by the uplink bandwidth and the fact that STA 2404 may only spread the allocated 26-tone RU into a corresponding 26-tone DRU. For example, in example 2400, despite spreading the allocated RU over the entire uplink bandwidth, the power boost may still not be enough for STA 2404 to reach AP 2402 with a desired minimum receive power level.

[0204] To further boost its transmit power, STA 2404 may use a transmission operation that includes STA 2404 transmitting via only a subset of tones of RU 2408 (or of the allocated RU). For example, STA 2404 may transmit using only the odd tones or only the even tones of RU 2408 (or of the allocated RU). However, while this transmission operation allows STA 2404 to further boost its transmit power, a subset of tones of RU 2408 (or of the allocated RU) remain unused during the uplink transmission to AP 2402. Further, according to existing technologies, as the RU is allocated to STA 2404, STA 2406 may not use the subset of tones of RU 2408 (or of the allocated RU) that are not used by STA 2404. This may result in an inefficient utilization of channel resources.

[0205] Additional embodiments of the present disclosure, as further described below, address the abovedescribed problem. In an aspect, an AP transmits to a first STA and / or a second STA a first frame identifying a field (e.g. , user info field), where the field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates resource unit allocation to the first STA and / or the second STA by the trigger frame. In an embodiment, the field comprises a subfield having a first value. The AP transmits to the first STA and / or the second STA a first trigger frame comprising the field and a first resource unit (RU). Based on the first trigger frame comprising the field, the AP receives from the first STA a second frame via a first plurality of tones of the first RU and from the second STA a third frame via a second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution, and the second plurality of tones are based on a second RU tone distribution.

[0206] FIG. 25 illustrates an example 2500 of an operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 25, example 2500 includes STAs 2502, 2504, and 2506. Each of STAs 2502, 2504 and 2506 may be a non- AP STA or an AP STA. In an embodiment, STA 2502 may be an AP STA and STAs 2504 and 2506 may be non-AP STAs. In this embodiment, STAs 2504 and 2506 may be associated with STA 2502.

[0207] As shown in FIG. 25, example 2500 may include STA 2502 transmitting a frame 2512 to STAs 2504 and 2506. In an embodiment, frame 2512 identifies a user info field, where the user info field, when present in a trigger frame (as illustrated in FIG. 9), indicates resource unit allocation to STA 2504 and / or STA 2506 by the trigger frame. In an embodiment, the user info field comprises an association identifier (AID12) subfield having a first value. In an embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier (e.g., AID12) of STA2504 or STA 2506. In another embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier of a STA other than STA 2504 or STA 2506. In another embodiment, the trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier subfield equal to an association identifier of STA 2504 and / or STA 2506. In another embodiment, the first value is equal to a reserved value or an association identifier value that is not assigned to a STA within a BSS of STA 2504 and / or STA 2506. In an embodiment, frame 2512 identifies the user info field by indicating the first value in a field of frame 2512. As would be understood by a person of skill in the art, in other embodiments, resource unit allocation may be indicated by a frame other than a trigger frame. As such, frame 2512 may identify a field other than a user info field.

[0208] Frame 2512 may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame. In an embodiment, frame 2512 may further indicate a first RU tone distribution for STA 2504 and / or a second RU tone distribution for STA 2506. The first RU tone distribution may indicate a first starting tone and a first tone distance. The first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2504. In another embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2504. The second RU tone distribution may indicate a second starting tone and a second tone distance. The second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2506. In another embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2506. The RU may be a distributed RU (DRU) as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0209] In an embodiment, STA 2502 may transmit frame 2512 in response to a frame 2508 from STA 2504 and / or a frame 2510 from STA 2506. In an embodiment, frame 2508 may indicate a third RU tone distribution that STA 2504 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2504. Frame 2508 may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. The third RU tone distribution may indicate a third starting tone and a third tone distance. The third tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the third RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the third starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2504. In another embodiment, the third starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2504. The RU may be a distributed RU (DRU) as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones. The third RU tone distribution may be same as or different than the first RU tone distribution. Similarly, frame 2510 may indicate a fourth RU tone distribution that STA 2506 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2506. Frame 2510 may comprise a BSR frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a QoS data / null frame. The fourth RU tone distribution may indicate a fourth starting tone and a fourth tone distance. The fourth tone distancecorresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the fourth RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2506. In another embodiment, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2506. The fourth RU tone distribution may be same as or different than the second RU tone distribution.

[0210] After transmitting frame 2512, STA 2502 transmits a frame 2514 to STAs 2504 and STA 2506. In an embodiment, frame 2514 may comprise a trigger frame as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. The trigger frame may be a basic trigger frame, a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) trigger frame, or an MU-RTS TXS trigger (MRTT) frame. In an embodiment, frame 2514 may comprise the user info field identified in frame 2512. In another embodiment, frame 2514 may further comprise / indicate a first resource unit (RU) allocated to STA 2504 and / or STA 2506. In an embodiment, the first RU may be indicated in an RU Allocation subfield of a User Info field 2520 of frame 2514. In an embodiment, User Info field 2520 comprises an AID12 subfield with a value equal to the first value indicated in frame 2512. In an embodiment, the first RU may be a DRU as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0211] On receiving frame 2514, STA 2504 / 1706 use the first value indicated in frame 2512 to locate User Info field 2520 in frame 2514. Based on frame 2514 comprising User Info field 2520, STA 2504 / 1706 determine the first RU allocated to STA 2504 and / or 2506 and indicated in User Info field 2520. STA 2504 / 1706 may then proceed to transmit via the first RU to STA 2502. Specifically, STA 2504 may transmit to STA 2502 a frame 2516 via a first plurality of tones of the first RU, and STA 2506 may transmit to STA 2502 a frame 2518 via a second plurality of tones of the first RU . In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones are based on the first RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2512. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones are based on the second RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2512. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise even / odd tones, and the second plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise odd / even tones. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU are different than the second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU do not comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU), where DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0212] FIG. 26 illustrates an example 2600 of an operation according to an embodiment. Like example 2500, example 2600 also includes STAs 2502, 2504, and 2506. As shown in FIG. 26, example 2600 may include STA 2502 transmitting a frame 2602 that triggers STA 2504 to transmit frame 2508 and / or STA 2506 to transmit frame 2510. The frame 2602 may comprise a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame. In response to frame 2602, STA 2504transmits frame 2508 to STA 2502, and STA 2506 transmits frame 2510 to STA 2502. Frames 2508 and 2510 are as described above with respect to FIG. 25. In an embodiment, where frame 2602 comprises a BSRP frame, STAs 2504 and 2506 may transmit frames 2508 and 2510 simultaneously. In another embodiment (not shown in FIG. 26), STA 2502 may solicit each of STAs 2504 and 2506 separately. That is, after receiving frame 2508 from STA 2504, STA 2502 may solicit STA 2506 to transmit frame 2510.

[0213] After the transmission of frames 2508 and 2510, the operation illustrated in example 2600 continues in an identical manner to the operation illustrated in example 2500 described above. For the purpose of simplification, the description of this operation as described above with respect to FIG. 25 is not repeated herein and is incorporated herein by reference with respect to FIG. 26.

[0214] FIG. 27 illustrates an example 2700 of an operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 27, example 2700 includes STAs 2702, 2704, and 2706. Each of STAs 2702, 2704 and 2706 may be a non- AP STA or an AP STA. In an embodiment, STA 2702 may be an AP STA and STAs 2704 and 2706 may be non-AP STAs. In this embodiment, STAs 2704 and 2706 may be associated with STA 2702.

[0215] As shown in FIG. 27, example 2700 may include STA 2704 transmitting a frame 2708 to STA 2702. Frame 2708 may indicate a first RU tone distribution that STA 2704 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2704. The first RU tone distribution may indicate a first starting tone and a first tone distance. The first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2704. In another embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2704.

[0216] In response to frame 2708, STA 2702 transmits frame 2710 to STA 2704. Frame 2710 may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame, for example. In an embodiment, frame 2710 may indicate a second RU tone distribution for STA 2704. The second RU tone distribution may indicate a second starting tone and a second tone distance. The second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2704. In another embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2704. The RU may be a distributed RU (DRU) as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones. The second RU tone distribution may be the same as or different than the first RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2708.

[0217] Subsequently, STA 2706 may transmit a frame 2712 to STA 2702. Frame 2712 may indicate a third RU tone distribution that STA 2706 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2706. The third RU tone distribution may indicate a third starting tone and a third tone distance. The third tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the third RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the thirdstarting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2704. In another embodiment, the third starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2704.

[0218] In response to frame 2712, STA 2702 transmits a frame 2714 to STA 2706. Frame 2710 may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame, for example. In an embodiment, frame 2714 identifies a user info field, where the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates resource unit allocation to STA 2706 by the trigger frame. In an embodiment, the user info field comprises an association identifier (AID12) subfield having a first value. In an embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier (e.g., AID12) of STA 2704. That is, frame 2714 indicates to STA 2706 to locate an RU allocated to STA 2706 in the user info field dedicated to STA 2704. In another embodiment, the trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier subfield equal to an association identifier of STA 2704. In an embodiment, frame 2714 identifies the user info field by indicating the first value in a field of frame 2714. As would be understood by a person of skill in the art, in other embodiments, resource unit allocation may be indicated by a frame other than a trigger frame. As such, frame 2714 may identify a field other than a user info field.

[0219] In an embodiment, frame 2714 may indicate a fourth RU tone distribution for STA 2706. The fourth RU tone distribution may indicate a fourth starting tone and a fourth tone distance. The fourth tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the fourth RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2706. In another embodiment, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2706. The RU may be a distributed RU (DRU) as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones. The fourth RU tone distribution may be the same as or different than the third RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2712.

[0220] After transmitting frame 2714, STA 2702 transmits frame 2716 to STAs 2704 and STA 2706. In an embodiment, frame 2714 may comprise a trigger frame as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. The trigger frame may be a basic trigger frame, a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) trigger frame, or an MU-RTS TXS trigger (MRTT) frame. In an embodiment, frame 2716 may comprise a User Info field 2722. In an embodiment, User Info field 2722 comprises an AID12 subfield with a value equal to the first value indicated in frame 2714. As mentioned above, the first value may correspond to the association identifier (AID12) of STA 2704. In another embodiment, frame 2714 may further comprise / indicate a first resource unit (RU) allocated to STA 2704 and / or STA 2706. In an embodiment, the first RU may be indicated in an RU Allocation subfield of User Info field 2722. In an embodiment, the first RU may be a DRU as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0221] On receiving frame 2716, STA 2704 checks (or reads / parses / decodes) User Info field 2722 which has an association identifier subfield with the same value as the association identifier of STA 2704. Based on the RU Allocation subfield of User Info field 2722, STA 2704 determines the first RU allocated to STA2704 and / or STA 2706. STA 2704 may then proceed to transmit a frame 2718 via the first RU to STA 2702. Specifically, STA 2704 may transmit to STA 2702 frame 2718 via a first plurality of tones of the first RU.

[0222] On receiving frame 2716, STA 2706 uses the first value indicated in frame 2714 to also check (or read / parse / decode) User Info field 2722 in frame 2716. Based on User Info field 2722, STA 2706 determines the first RU allocated to STA 2704 and / or 2706. STA 2706 may then proceed to transmit frame 2720 via the first RU to STA 2702. Specifically, STA 2706 may transmit to STA 2702 frame 2720 via a second plurality of tones of the first RU. As such, STAs 2704 and 2706 transmit frames 2718 and 2720 respectively via the same first RU, each using a different plurality of tones of the first RU.

[0223] In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones are based on the first RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2708 or the second RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2710. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones are based on the third RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2712 or the fourth RU tone distribution indicated in frame 2714. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise even / odd tones, and the second plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise odd / even tones. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU are different than the second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU do not comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU), where DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0224] FIG. 28 illustrates an example 2800 of an operation according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, example 2800 includes STAs 2802, 2804, and 2806. Each of STAs 2802, 2804 and 2806 may be a non- AP STA or an AP STA. In an embodiment, STA 2802 may be an AP STA and STAs 2804 and 2806 may be non-AP STAs. In an embodiment, STAs 2804 and 2806 may be associated with STA 2802.

[0225] As shown in FIG. 28, example 2800 may include STA 2802 transmitting a frame 2808 to STAs 2804 and STA 2806. In an embodiment, frame 2808 may comprise a trigger frame as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. The trigger frame may be a basic trigger frame, a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) trigger frame, or an MU-RTS TXS trigger (MRTT) frame. In an embodiment, frame 2808 may comprise a first User Info field 2810 and / or a second User Info field 2812. First User Info field 2810 may be associated with STA 2804, and second User Info field 2812 may be associated with STA 2806. For example, first User Info field 2810 may indicate an association identifier of STA 2804, and second User Info field 2812 may indicate an association identifier of STA 2806. In an embodiment, first User Info field 2810 and second User Info field 2812 each comprises a field that indicates a first RU. In an embodiment, the first RU may be indicated in a first RU Allocation subfield of first User Info field 2810 and in a second RU Allocation subfield of second UserInfo field 2812. In an embodiment, the first RU may be a DRU as illustrated in FIG. 14. The DRU may comprise a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0226] In an embodiment, frame 2808 indicates that STA 2804 is to use a first plurality of tones of the first RU and that STA 2806 is to use a second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, first User Info field 2810 comprises a first field that indicates the first plurality of tones of the first RU, and second User Info field 2812 comprises a second field that indicates the second plurality of tones. In an embodiment, the first field and the second field may be set to 0 and 1 respectively (or 1 and 0 respectively) to indicate that STA 2804 is to use the first plurality of tones and that STA 2806 is to use the second plurality of tones. The first plurality of tones and the second plurality of tones may be pre-determined. For example, the first field set to 1 may indicate that STA 2804 is to use the odd tones of the first RU, and the second field set to 0 may indicate that STA 2806 is to use the even tones of the first RU. In another embodiment, the first field and the second field may each be more than 1 bit and may each indicate a respective plurality of tones from a set of predetermined pluralities of tones. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones comprises odd or even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise even / odd tones, and the second plurality of tones of the first RU may comprise odd / even tones. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU are different than the second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU do not comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones of the first RU and the second plurality of tones of the first RU comprise a tone in common.

[0227] On receiving frame 2808, STA 2804 may determine, based on first User Info field 2810, the first RU allocated to both STAs 2804 and STA 2806 and the first plurality of tones to be used by STA 2804. STA 2804 may then proceed to transmit a frame 2814 to STA 2802 via the first RU, and specifically via the first plurality of tones of the first RU. Similarly, STA 2806 may determine, based on second User Info field 2812, the first RU allocated to both STAs 2804 and STA 2806 and the second plurality of tones to be used by STA 2806. STA 2806 may then proceed to transmit a frame 2816 to STA 2802 via the first RU, and specifically via the second plurality of tones of the first RU.

[0228] In another embodiment, STA 2802 may transmit frame 2808 in response to a frame 2818 from STA 2804 and / or a frame 2820 from STA 2806. In an embodiment, frame 2818 may indicate a first RU tone distribution that STA 2804 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2804. Frame 2818 may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. The first RU tone distribution may indicate a first starting tone and a first tone distance. The first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2804. In another embodiment, the first starting tone corresponds to a highestfrequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2804. Similarly, frame 2820 may indicate a second RU tone distribution that STA 2806 applies to an RU allocated to STA 2806. Frame 2820 may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. The second RU tone distribution may indicate a second starting tone and a second tone distance. The second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in an allocated RU to STA 2806. In another embodiment, the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the allocated RU to STA 2806.

[0229] FIG. 29 illustrates an example process 2900 according to an embodiment. Example process 2900 is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not limiting embodiments. Example process 2900 may be performed by a first STA, such as STA 2504, STA 2506, STA 2704, or STA 2706, for example. The first STA may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA As shown in FIG. 29, process 2900 may include steps 2902, 2904, and 2906.

[0230] Step 2902 includes receiving, by the first STA from a second STA, a first frame identifying a user info field, wherein the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates a resource unit (RU) allocated to the first STA by the trigger frame. The second STA may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA. In an embodiment, the first frame may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame, for example. In an embodiment, the first frame identifying the user info field comprises the first frame comprising a user info field comprising a first value. In an embodiment, the user info field comprising the first value comprises an association identifier (AID12) subfield comprising the first value. In an embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier of the first STA. In another embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier of another first STA. In another embodiment, the first value is equal to an unassigned association identifier within a basic service set (BSS) of the first STA.

[0231] Step 2904 includes receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a first trigger frame. In an embodiment, the first trigger frame comprises the user info field identified by the first frame. In an embodiment, the first trigger frame comprises a user info field comprising the first value. The first value may be provided in an association identifier (AID12) subfield of the user info field. In an embodiment, the trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield equal to an association identifier of the first STA.

[0232] Step 2906 includes based on the first trigger frame comprising the user info field identified by the first frame, transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a second frame via a plurality of tones of a first resource unit (RU) indicated in the user info field of the first trigger frame. In an embodiment, the plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution. In an example, the plurality of tones comprises odd tones of the first RU . In another example, the plurality of tones comprises even tones of the first RU . In an embodiment, the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU). The DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0233] In an embodiment, the first RU tone distribution comprises one or more first tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first RU tone distribution comprises a first starting tone and a first tone distance. In an example, the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the first RU. In another example, the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the first RU. The first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU distribution.

[0234] In an embodiment, the first frame comprises / indicates the first RU tone distribution. In another embodiment, process 2900 may further comprise receiving a frame (other than the first frame) comprising / indicating the first RU tone distribution.

[0235] In an embodiment, process 2900 may further comprise transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a third frame indicating a second RU tone distribution that the first STA applies to an RU allocated to the first STA. The third frame may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / nu II frame. In an embodiment, the second RU tone distribution comprises a second starting tone and a second tone distance. In an example, the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU. In another example, the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU. The second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU distribution. The first RU tone distribution may be the same as or different than the second RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, process 2900 may further comprise determining by the first STA the second RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.

[0236] In an embodiment, process 2900 may further comprise receiving by the first STA from the second STA, a fourth frame that triggers the first STA to transmit the third frame. The fourth frame may comprise a trigger frame, a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0237] FIG. 30 illustrates an example process 3000 according to an embodiment. Example process 3000 is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not limiting embodiments. Example process 3000 may be performed by a first STA, such as STA 2502 or STA 2702, for example. The first STA may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA. As shown in FIG. 30, process 3000 may include steps 3002 and 3004.

[0238] Step 3002 includes transmitting, by the first STA to a second STA, a first frame identifying a user info field, where the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates a resource unit (RU) allocated to the second STA by the trigger frame. The second STA may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA. In an embodiment, the first frame may comprise a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame, for example. In an embodiment, the first frame identifying the user info field comprises the first frame comprising a user info field comprising a first value. In an embodiment, the user info field comprising the first value comprises an association identifier (AID12) subfield comprising the first value. In an embodiment, the first value is equal to an association identifier of the second STA. In another embodiment,the first value is equal to an association identifier of another STA. In another embodiment, the first value is equal to an unassigned association identifier within a basic service set (BSS) of the second STA.

[0239] Step 3004 includes transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a first trigger frame comprising the user info field and a first RU. In an embodiment, the first trigger frame comprising the user info field comprises the first trigger frame comprising a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield having a first value. The first value may be provided in an association identifier (AID12) subfield of the user info field. In an embodiment, the first trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield equal to an association identifier of the first STA.

[0240] In an embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a second frame via a first plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution. In an example, the plurality of tones comprises odd tones of the first RU. In another example, the plurality of tones comprises even tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU). The DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

[0241] In an embodiment, the first RU tone distribution comprises one or more first tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the first RU tone distribution comprises a first starting tone and a first tone distance. In an example, the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the first RU. In another example, the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the first RU. The first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU distribution.

[0242] In an embodiment, the first frame comprises / indicates the first RU tone distribution. In another embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise receiving a frame (other than the first frame) comprising / indicating the first RU tone distribution.

[0243] In an embodiment, the first frame comprises / indicates the first RU tone distribution. In another embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a frame (other than the first frame) comprising / indicating the first RU tone distribution.

[0244] In an embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame indicating a second RU tone distribution that the second STA applies to an RU allocated to the second STA. The third frame may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. In an embodiment, the second RU tone distribution comprises a second starting tone and a second tone distance. In an example, the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU. In another example, the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU. The second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU distribution. The first RU tone distribution may be the same as or different than the second RU tone distribution.

[0245] In an embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a fourth frame that triggers the second STA to transmit the third frame. The fourth frame may comprisea trigger frame, a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0246] In an embodiment, the first frame is further transmitted to a third STA in step 3002, and the user info field identified by the first frame, when present in a trigger frame, indicates resource unit allocation to the third STA by the trigger frame. The third STA may comprise an AR STA or a non-AP STA. In an embodiment, process 3020 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the third STA, a fifth frame via a second plurality of tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the second plurality of tones are based on a third RU tone distribution. In an embodiment, the third RU tone distribution comprises one or more second tones of the first RU. In an embodiment, the third RU tone distribution comprises a third starting tone and a third tone distance. In an example, the third starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the first RU. In another example, the third starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the first RU. The third tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the third RU distribution. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones are different than the second plurality of tones. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones and the second plurality of tones do not comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones and the second plurality of tones comprise a tone in common. In an embodiment, the first plurality of tones comprise even / odd tones, and the second plurality of tones comprise odd / even tones.

[0247] In an embodiment, process 3000 may further comprise receiving, by the first STA from the third STA, a sixth indicating a fourth RU tone distribution that the third STA applies to an RU allocated to the third STA. The sixth frame may comprise a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame. In an embodiment, the fourth RU tone distribution comprises a fourth starting tone and a fourth tone distance. In an example, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU. In another example, the fourth starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU. The fourth tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the fourth RU distribution. The third RU tone distribution may be the same as or different than the fourth RU tone distribution.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method comprising: transmitting, by a station (STA) to an access point (AP), a first frame indicating a resource unit (RU) tone distribution; receiving, by the STA from the AP, a trigger frame allocating a first RU to the STA; determining, by the STA and based on the RU tone distribution, one or more first tones and one or more second tones of the first RU; and transmitting, by the STA to the AP and in response to the trigger frame, a second frame via the first RU, wherein a first transmit power of a first tone of the one or more first tones is different from a second transmit power of a second tone of the one or more second tones.

2. A method comprising: receiving, by a first station (STA) from a second STA, a first frame comprising an allocation of a resource unit (RU) comprising one or more first tones and one or more second tones; and in response to the first frame, transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a second frame via the RU, wherein a first transmit power of a first tone of the one or more first tones is different from a second transmit power of a second tone of the one or more second tones.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, by the first STA, an RU tone distribution.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the RU tone distribution comprises a starting tone and a tone distance.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU.

7. The method of any of claims 4-6, wherein the tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU tone distribution.

8. The method of any of claims 3-7, wherein the first frame comprises / indicates the RU tone distribution.

9. The method of any of claims 3-7, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third frame comprises a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.11 . The method of any of claims 3-7, wherein the determining of the RU tone distribution comprises selecting, by the first STA, the RU tone distribution from a set of RU tone distributions.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of RU tone distributions are pre-configured at the first STA.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising the set of RU tone distributions.

14. The method of any of claims 11-13, further comprising transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a fourth frame comprising the RU tone distribution.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fourth frame comprises an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / nu II frame.

16. The method of any of claims 14-15, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a fifth frame accepting or rejecting the RU tone distribution.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fifth frame comprises / indicates a first RU tone distribution based on the RU tone distribution.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein first RU tone distribution comprises one or more third tones from the RU.

19. The method of any of claims 3-7, further comprising: receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame comprising / indicating a first RU tone distribution; and determining, by the first STA, the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining of the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution comprises adding or subtracting one or more tones from the first RU tone distribution.21 . The method of any of claims 3-7, wherein determining the RU tone distribution comprises determining the RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.

22. The method of any of claims 3-21 , further comprising determining, by the first STA and based on the RU tone distribution, the one or more first tones and the one or more second tones.

23. The method of any of claims 2-22, wherein the first transmit power is higher than the second transmit power.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second transmit power is a percentage of the first transmit power.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the percentage ranges between 0 and 100.

26. The method of any of claims 23-25, wherein the second transmit power is equal to zero.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, the second frame via the RU comprises not transmitting via the one or more second tones.

28. The method of any of claims 2-27, wherein the one or more first tones comprise odd tones of the RU.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more second tones comprise even tones of the RU30. The method of any of claims 2-29, wherein the RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU).31 . The method of claim 30, wherein the DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

32. The method of any of claims 2-31 , wherein the first frame comprises a trigger frame.

33. A method comprising:receiving, by an access point (AP) from a station (STA), a first frame indicating a resource unit (RU) tone distribution; transmitting, by the AP to the STA, a trigger frame allocating a first RU to the STA; and receiving, by the AP from the STA and in response to the trigger frame, a second frame via the first RU based on the RU tone distribution.

34. A method comprising: transmitting, by a second station (STA) to a first STA, a first frame allocating a resource unit (RU) to the first STA; and receiving, by the second STA from the first STA and in response to the first frame, a second frame based on an RU tone distribution applied by the first STA to the RU.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the RU tone distribution comprises a starting tone and a tone distance.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU.

38. The method of any of claims 35-37, wherein the tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the RU tone distribution.

39. The method of any of claims 34-38, wherein the first frame comprises / indicates the RU tone distribution.

40. The method of any of claims 34-38, further comprising transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution.41 . The method of claim 40, wherein the third frame comprises a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

42. The method of any of claims 34-41 , further comprising transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising a set of RU tone distributions.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising receiving, by the second STA from the first STA, a fourth frame comprising the RU tone distribution, wherein the RU tone distribution belongs to the set of RU tone distributions.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the fourth frame comprises an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / nu II frame.

45. The method of any of claims 43-44, further comprising transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a fifth frame accepting or rejecting the RU tone distribution.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the fifth frame comprises / indicates a first RU tone distribution.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein first RU tone distribution comprises one or more third tones from the RU.

48. The method of any of claims 34-38, further comprising:transmitting, by the second STA to the first STA, a third frame comprising / indicating a first RU tone distribution.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising receiving, by the second STA from the first STA, a fourth frame comprising / indicating the RU tone distribution, wherein the first STA determines the RU tone distribution based on the first RU tone distribution.

50. The method of any of claims 34-48, wherein the first STA determines the RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.51 . The method of any of claims 34-50, wherein the RU comprises one or more first tones and one or more second tones.

52. The method of claim 51 , further comprising determining, by the second STA based on the second frame, one or more first tones of the RU having a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) greater than or equal to a first power level and one or more second tones of the RU having an RSSI lower than the first power level.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the first power level ranges from 0 to xx dBm.

54. The method of any of claims 52-53, wherein the one or more first tones comprise odd tones of the RU.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the one or more second tones comprise even tones of the RU.

56. The method of any of claims 34-55, wherein the RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU).

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

58. The method of any of claims 34-55, wherein the first frame comprises a trigger frame.

59. A method comprising: transmitting, by a station (STA) to an access point (AP), a first frame indicating a first resource unit (RU) tone distribution that the STA applies to an RU allocated to the STA; receiving, by the STA from the AP, a second frame indicating an association identifier (AID) and a second RU tone distribution; receiving, by the STA from the AP, a trigger frame comprising a user info field and indicating a first RU; and based on the user info field of the trigger frame indicating the AID: determining, by the STA and based on the second RU tone distribution, a plurality of tones of the first RU; and transmitting, by the STA to the AP, a third frame via the plurality of tones of the first RU60. A method comprising: receiving, by a first station (STA) from a second STA, a first frame identifying a user info field, wherein the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates a resource unit (RU) allocated to the first STA by the trigger frame; receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a first trigger frame; andbased on the first trigger frame comprising the user info field, transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a second frame via a plurality of tones of a first resource unit (RU) indicated in the user info field, wherein the plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the first frame comprises a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

62. The method of any of claims 60-61 , further comprising transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a third frame indicating a second RU tone distribution that the first STA applies to an RU allocated to the first STA.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the first RU tone distribution is same as or different than the second RU tone distribution.

64. The method of any of claims 62-63, wherein the third frame comprises a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame.

65. The method of any of claims 62-64, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a fourth frame that triggers the first STA to transmit the third frame.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the fourth frame comprises a trigger frame.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the fourth frame comprises a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

68. The method of any of claims 60-67, wherein the first frame further indicates the first RU tone distribution for the first STA.

69. The method of any of claims 60-68, wherein the user info field comprises an association identifier (AID12) subfield having a first value.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the first value is equal to an association identifier of the first STA.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the first value is equal to an association identifier of another first STA.

72. The method of any of claims 60-69 or 71 , wherein the first trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield equal to an association identifier of the first STA.

73. The method of any of claims 69 or 72, wherein the first value is equal to an unassigned association identifier within a basic service set (BSS) of the first STA.

74. The method of any of claims 60-73, wherein the first RU tone distribution comprises a first starting tone and a first tone distance.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the first RU.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the first RU.

77. The method of any of claims 74-76, wherein the first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU tone distribution.

78. The method of any of claims 62-77, wherein the second RU tone distribution comprises a second starting tone and a second tone distance.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU.

81. The method of any of claims 78-80, wherein the second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU tone distribution.

82. The method of any of claims 62-81 , further comprising determining, by the first STA, the second RU tone distribution from a set of RU tone distributions.

83. The method of any of claims 62-82, further comprising: receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a fifth frame comprising / indicating the first RU tone distribution.

84. The method of any of claims 60-83, wherein first RU tone distribution comprises one or more first tones of the first RU.

85. The method of any of claims 62-84, further comprising determining the second RU tone distribution based on a minimum tone distance.

86. The method of any of claims 60-85, wherein the plurality of tones comprises odd tones of the first RU.

87. The method of claim 60-85, wherein the plurality of tones comprises even tones of the first RU.

88. The method of any of claims 60-87, wherein the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU).

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

90. The method of any of claims 60-89, wherein the first STA comprises a non-AP STA and the second STA comprises an AP STA.91 . A method comprising: transmitting, by an access point (AP) to a first station (STA), a first frame identifying a user info field, when the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates a resource unit (RU) allocated to the STA by the trigger frame; transmitting, by the AP to the first STA, a first trigger frame comprising the user info field and a first resource unit (RU); and receiving, by the AP from the first STA, a second frame via a plurality of tones of the first RU, wherein the plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution.

92. A method comprising:transmitting, by a first station (STA) to a second station, a first frame identifying a user info field, wherein the user info field, when present in a trigger frame, indicates resource unit allocation to the second STA by the trigger frame; and transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a first trigger frame comprising the user info field and a first resource unit (RU).

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the first frame comprises a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

94. The method of any of claims 92-93, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a second frame via a first plurality of tones of the first RU, wherein the first plurality of tones are based on a first RU tone distribution.

95. The method of claim 94, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the second STA, a third frame indicating a second RU tone distribution that the second STA applies to an RU allocated to the second STA.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the first RU tone distribution is same as or different than the second RU tone distribution.

97. The method of any of claims 95-96, wherein the third frame comprises a buffer status report (BSR) frame, an association request frame, a probe request frame, an action frame, or a Quality of Service (QoS) data / null frame.

98. The method of any of claims 95-97, further comprising transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a fourth frame that triggers the second STA to transmit the third frame.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the fourth frame comprises a trigger frame.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the fourth frame comprises a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.101 . The method of any of claims 94-100, wherein the first frame is further transmitted to a third STA, and wherein the user info field, when present in the trigger frame, indicates resource unit allocation to the third STA by the trigger frame.

102. The method of claim 101 , further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the third STA, a fifth frame via a second plurality of tones of the first RU, wherein the second plurality of tones are based on a third RU tone distribution.103 The method of claim 102, further comprising receiving, by the first STA from the third STA, a sixth indicating a fourth RU tone distribution that the third STA applies to an RU allocated to the third STA.

104. The method of any of claims 102-103, wherein the first plurality of tones are different than the second plurality of tones.

105. The method of any of claims 102-104, wherein the first plurality of tones and the second plurality of tones do not comprise a tone in common.

106. The method of any of claims 102-105, wherein the first plurality of tones comprise even / odd tones, and wherein the second plurality of tones comprise odd / even tones.107 The method of any of claims 102-104, wherein the first plurality of tones and the second plurality of tones comprise a tone in common.

108. The method of any of claims 94-107, wherein the first frame indicates the first RU tone distribution.

109. The method of any of claims 92-108, wherein the first trigger frame comprising the user info field comprises the first trigger frame comprising a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield having a first value.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the first value is equal to an association identifier of the second STA.111 . The method of claim 109, wherein the first value is equal to an association identifier of a STA other than the second STA.112 The method of any of claims 92-109 or 11 1 , wherein the first trigger frame does not comprise a user info field with an association identifier (AID12) subfield equal to an association identifier of the second STA.

113. The method of any of claims 109 or 112, wherein the first value is equal to an unassigned association identifier within a basic service set (BSS) of the second STA.

114. The method of claim 94, wherein the first RU tone distribution comprises a first starting tone and a first tone distance.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the first starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the first RU.116 The method of claim 114, wherein the first starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the first RU.

117. The method of any of claims 1 14-116, wherein the first tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the first RU tone distribution.

118. The method of claim 95, wherein the second RU tone distribution comprises a second starting tone and a second tone distance.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein the second starting tone corresponds to a lowest frequency tone in the RU.

120. The method of claim 118, wherein the second starting tone corresponds to a highest frequency tone in the RU.121 . The method of any of claims 1 18-120, wherein the second tone distance corresponds to a distance in tones between any two consecutive tones of the second RU tone distribution.

122. The method of any of claims 94-121 , further comprising transmitting, by the first STA to the second STA, a seventh frame comprising / indicating the first RU tone distribution.

123. The method of any of claims 92-122, wherein the first RU comprises a distributed RU (DRU).

124. The method of claim 123, wherein the DRU comprises a plurality of non-contiguous tones.

125. The method of claim 101 , wherein the third STA comprises a non-AP STA.126 The method of any of claims 92-125, wherein the first STA comprises an AP STA.

127. The method of any of claims 92-126, wherein the second STA comprises a non-AP STA.

128. A device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to perform a method according to any of claims 1-127.

129. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method according to any of claims 1- 127.

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