Beamforming for WI-FI communication on high frequency networks

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. Some aspects more specifically relate to mechanisms according to which an access point (AP) may manage uplink channel contention. In some examples, the AP may prevent uplink channel contention in association with using one or more AP-specific channel access parameters, such as an AP-specific arbitration inter-frame spacing number (AIFSN) value and / or an AP-specific contention window (CW) size. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP may use a first configuration for directional communication to transmit a first portion of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) and may use a second configuration for directional communication to transmit a second portion of the PPDU. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP may use the first configuration for directional communication to transmit a trigger frame and may use the second configuration for directional communication to receive a trigger-based (TB) PPDU.

Description

Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO1BEAMFORMING FOR WI-FI COMMUNICATION ON HIGH FREQUENCY NETWORKS CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This present Application for Patent claims priority to Indian Application No.202541006058 by BELUR RAMACHANDRA et al., entitled “BEAMFORMING FOR WI-FI COMMUNICATION ON HIGH FREQUENCY NETWORKS,” filed January 24, 2025, which is assigned to the assignee hereof, and is expressly incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication and, more specifically, to beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

[0003] Wireless communication networks may include various types of wireless communication devices including network entities (such as wireless access points (AP) or base stations (BS)), client devices (such as wireless stations (STAs) or user equipment (UEs)), and other wireless nodes. These wireless communication devices may communicate with one another via a variety of technologies and wireless communication protocols, including wireless local area network (WLAN) or Wi-Fibased protocols or cellular (such as 4G, 5G, or 6G)-based protocols. The wireless communication networks may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (such as time, frequency, and spatial resources). To enable features or provide improved performance, the wireless communication devices may employ technologies such as orthogonal frequency divisional multiple access (OFDMA), multi-user Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), spatial multiplexing, and beamforming. For greater inter-operability, the wireless communication networks may support backwards compatibility (such as supporting legacy wireless communication devices) as well as forward compatibility (such as supporting communication with wireless communication devices compatible with next-generation wireless communication standards).Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO2

[0004] Some wireless communication networks may provide long-range Wi-Fi connectivity using a millimeter wave (mmW) spectrum. In such wireless communication networks, an AP and a set of STAs may use directional antenna configurations to support high-capacity links between the AP and the STAs. For example, an AP and a STA may configure one or more respective antennas in a manner that focuses transmission and / or reception in a specific direction, which may increase a signal strength of communication between the AP and the STA. Directional communication may cause compatibility issues with some other Wi-Fi protocols, such as Wi-Fi channel access protocols. For example, some Wi-Fi channel access protocols rely on an energy detection threshold according to which an AP and / or a STA determines whether a channel is clear or busy. With directional communication, energy associated with a transmission is focused toward a specific location, which may result in STAs located elsewhere measuring a relatively low channel energy level and determining a channel as clear. Subsequent transmissions by such STAs may result in collisions and / or greater network interference, which may in turn result in deteriorating network performance.SUMMARY

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

[0006] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by or at a first wireless communication device. The method may include transmitting, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication and transmitting, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associatedAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO3with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0007] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a first wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device may include a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the first wireless communication device to transmit, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication and transmit, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0008] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by or at an access point (AP). The method may include transmitting, to a station (STA) associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication and receiving, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in an AP. The AP may include a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the AP to transmit, to a STA associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a firstAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO4configuration for directional communication and receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beam width.

[0010] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by or at an AP. The method may include setting an arbitration inter-frame spacing number (AIFSN) value to be equal to zero and setting both a lower limit contention window (CW) size and an upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot, transmitting one or more downlink signals to one or more STAs associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, and receiving one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot.

[0011] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in an AP. The AP may include a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the AP to set an AIFSN value to be equal to zero and set both a lower limit CW size and an upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot, transmit one or more downlink signals to one or more STAs associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, and receive one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot.

[0012] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in a method for wireless communication by or at an AP. The method may include transmitting a trigger frame to a STA associated with a wireless Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO5communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam identifier (ID) that is static for at least one discrete time interval and receiving, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

[0013] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented in an AP. The AP may include a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code. The processing system may be configured to cause the AP to transmit a trigger frame to a STA associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval and receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

[0014] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn to scale.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 shows a pictorial diagram of an example wireless communication network.

[0016] Figure 2 shows an example protocol data unit (PDU) usable for communications between a wireless access point (AP) and one or more wireless stations (STAs).Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO6

[0017] Figure 3 shows an example physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.

[0018] Figure 4 shows a hierarchical format of an example PPDU usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.

[0019] Figures 5 and 6 show example wireless communication networks that support beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0020] Figures 7 and 8 show example communication timelines that support beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0021] Figures 9 and 10 show example beamforming schemes that support beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0022] Figure 11 shows an example communication sequence that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0023] Figure 12 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0024] Figure 13 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0025] Figures 14-17 show flowcharts illustrating example processes performable by or at a first wireless communication device or an access point (AP) that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks.

[0026] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following description is directed to some particular examples for the purposes of describing innovative aspects of this disclosure. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude of different ways. Some or all of the described examples may beAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO7implemented in any device, system or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals according to one or more of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards, the IEEE 802.15 standards, the Bluetooth® standards as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), or the Long Term Evolution (LEE), 3G, 4G, 5G (New Radio (NR)) or 6G standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), among others.

[0028] The described examples can be implemented in any suitable device, component, system or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according to one or more of the following technologies or techniques: code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), spatial division multiple access (SDMA), rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), multi-user shared access (MUSA), single-user (SU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user (MU)-MIMO (MU-MIMO). The described examples also can be implemented using other wireless communication protocols or RF signals suitable for use in one or more of a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), a nonterrestrial network (NTN), or an internet of things (IOT) network.

[0029] In some wireless communication networks, an access point (AP) may provide long-range Wi-Fi connectivity to one or more stations (STAs) to support one or more commercial applications. Such commercial applications may include drone applications, Internet-of-Things (loT) applications, and / or applications pertaining to connectivity infrastructure in industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) and licensed bands. In some deployments, a wireless communication network may provide long-range Wi-Fi connectivity via a radio link using a millimeter wave (mmW) spectrum (such as a mmW frequency band), which may facilitate high-speed internet to end users without or with fewer fiber-optic cables (which may have a relatively higher installment cost). In some wireless communication networks, an AP and / or a set of STAs may use directional antenna configurations to support high-capacity links using the mmW spectrum. For example, an AP and / or a STA may configure one or more respective antennas in a manner that focuses transmission and / or reception in a specific direction.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO8Directional communication (which may be referred to as beamforming) may cause compatibility issues with some other Wi-Fi protocols, such as Wi-Fi channel access protocols. For example, some Wi-Fi channel access protocols rely on an energy detection threshold according to which an AP and / or a STA determines whether a channel is clear or busy. With directional communication, energy associated with a transmission may be focused toward a specific location, which may result in STAs located elsewhere measuring a relatively low channel energy level and (mistakenly) determining a channel as clear (because any energy associated with the transmission measured by the STAs may fail to satisfy the energy detection threshold). Such (mistaken) determinations of a clear channel may result in greater network interference, which may hinder network performance. Further, some techniques to resolve such channel access issues, such as a request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) (RTS / CTS) frame exchange, may be inadequate for some networks due to the higher signaling overhead (and, correspondingly, the reduced net capacity) caused by such techniques.

[0030] Various aspects relate generally to mechanisms according to which an AP may manage uplink channel contention within wireless communication networks associated with a mmW spectrum (such as the mmW frequency band) that uses directional communication (such as beamforming). Some aspects more specifically relate to mechanisms according to which the AP may control, prevent, or otherwise influence uplink channel contention by using one or more AP-specific channel access parameters and / or by using different configurations for directional communication for different messages and / or different portions of a message. In some examples, the AP may manage uplink channel contention in association with setting an arbitration interframe spacing number (AIFSN) value equal to zero and with setting both a lower limit and an upper limit contention window (CW) size equal to one slot (such that CWmin = CWmax = 1). Additionally, or alternatively, the AP may use a first configuration for directional communication to transmit a first portion (such as a preamble portion) of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) and may use a second configuration for directional communication to transmit a second portion (such as a data portion) of the PPDU. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP may use the first configuration for directional communication to transmit a trigger frame and may use the secondAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO9configuration for directional communication to receive a trigger-based (TB) PPDU. The first configuration for directional communication may be associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication may be associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth. Some other aspects more specifically relate to a disabling, at the AP, of a packet detection procedure, fully scheduling uplink traffic, and / or an exclusion of a preamble portion from a TB PPDU in some wireless communication networks.

[0031] Particular aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. In some examples, by using one or more AP-specific channel access parameters of AIFSN = 0 and CWmin = CWmax = 1 to reduce or prevent uplink channel contention, the AP may reduce (and potentially eliminate) uplink interference by prioritizing AP-side (such as downlink) channel contention by reducing (and potentially eliminating) a probability of a STA acquiring the channel. Further, by using a relatively wider beamwidth to transmit a preamble portion of a PPDU and / or to transmit a trigger frame that solicits a TB PPDU and using a relatively narrower beamwidth to transmit a data portion of the PPDU and / or to receive the TB PPDU, the AP may inform a relatively greater quantity of STAs of a PPDU duration and / or a channel occupancy time (COT) because more STAs may receive the preamble and / or the trigger frame and set their network allocation vectors (NAVs) accordingly. Moreover, by disabling a packet detection procedure at the AP and fully scheduling uplink traffic, the AP may experience greater power savings and / or a greater likelihood of successfully parsing a scheduled uplink transmission by focusing reception capabilities on the scheduled uplink transmission and refraining from processing any non-scheduled uplink transmissions. Additionally, by enabling an exclusion of a preamble portion from a TB PPDU in some wireless communication networks, the AP and the STAs may experience higher data rates and greater spectral efficiency by reducing signaling overhead without compromising network performance (as, for example, a preamble portion of a TB PPDU within some wireless communication networks may carry redundant information or information that is otherwise not impactful to network performance).

[0032] Figure 1 shows a pictorial diagram of an example wireless communication network 100. According to some aspects, the wireless communication network 100 canAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO10be an example of a wireless local area network (WLAN) such as a Wi-Fi network. For example, the wireless communication network 100 can be a network implementing at least one of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards, such as defined by the IEEE 802.11-2020 specification or amendments thereof (including, but not limited to, 802.1 lay, 802.1 lax (also referred to as Wi-Fi 6), 802.11 az, 802.11ba, 802.1 Ibc, 802.1 Ibd, 802.1 Ibe (also referred to as Wi-Fi 7), 802.1 Ibf, and 802.1 Ibn (also referred to as Wi-Fi 8)) or other WLAN or Wi-Fi standards, such as that associated with the 802.1 Ibq Integrated Millimeter Wave (IMMW) study group. In some other examples, the wireless communication network 100 can be an example of a cellular radio access network (RAN), such as a 5G or 6G RAN that implements one or more cellular protocols such as those specified in one or more 3GPP standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication network 100 can include a WLAN that functions in an interoperable or converged manner with one or more cellular RANs to provide greater or enhanced network coverage to wireless communication devices within the wireless communication network 100 or to enable such devices to connect to a cellular network’s core, such as to access the network management capabilities and functionality offered by the cellular network core. In some other examples, the wireless communication network 100 can include a WLAN that functions in an interoperable or converged manner with one or more personal area networks, such as a network implementing Bluetooth or other wireless technologies, to provide greater or enhanced network coverage or to provide or enable other capabilities, functionality, applications or services.

[0033] The wireless communication network 100 may include numerous wireless communication devices including a wireless AP 102 and any number of wireless STAs 104. While only one AP 102 is shown in Figure 1, the wireless communication network 100 can include multiple APs 102 (such as in an extended service set (ESS) deployment, enterprise network or AP mesh network), or may not include any AP at all (such as in an independent basic service set (IBSS) such as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network or other ad hoc network). The AP 102 can be or represent various different types of network entities including, but not limited to, a home networking AP, an enterpriselevel AP, a single-frequency AP, a dual -band simultaneous (DBS) AP, a tri -band simultaneous (TBS) AP, a standalone AP, a non- standalone AP, a software-enabled APAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO11(soft AP), and a multi-link AP (also referred to as an AP multi-link device (MLD)), as well as cellular (such as 3GPP, 4G LTE, 5G or 6G) base stations or other cellular network nodes such as a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), a gNB, a transmission reception point (TRP) or another type of device or equipment included in a RAN, including Open-RAN (O-RAN) network entities, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU) or a radio unit (RU).

[0034] Each of the STAs 104 also may be referred to as a mobile station (MS), a mobile device, a mobile handset, a wireless handset, an access terminal (AT), a user equipment (UE), a subscriber station (SS), or a subscriber unit, among other examples. The STAs 104 may represent various devices such as mobile phones, other handheld or wearable communication devices, netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, Chromebooks, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) or extended reality (XR) wireless headsets or other peripheral devices, wireless earbuds, other wearable devices, display devices (such as TVs, computer monitors or video gaming consoles), video game controllers, navigation systems, music or other audio or stereo devices, remote control devices, printers, kitchen appliances (including smart refrigerators) or other household appliances, key fobs (such as for passive keyless entry and start (PKES) systems), Internet of Things (loT) devices, and vehicles, among other examples.

[0035] A single AP 102 and an associated set of STAs 104 may be referred to as an infrastructure basic service set (BSS), which is managed by the respective AP 102. Figure 1 additionally shows an example coverage area 108 of the AP 102, which may represent a basic service area (BSA) of the wireless communication network 100. The BSS may be identified by STAs 104 and other devices by a service set identifier (SSID), as well as a basic service set identifier (BSSID), which may be a medium access control (MAC) address of the AP 102. The AP 102 may periodically broadcast beacon frames (“beacons”) including the BSSID to enable any STAs 104 within wireless range of the AP 102 to “associate” or re-associate with the AP 102 to establish a respective communication link 106 (hereinafter also referred to as a “Wi-Fi link”), or to maintain a communication link 106, with the AP 102. For example, the beacons can include an identification or indication of a primary channel used by the respective AP 102 as well as a timing synchronization function (TSF) for establishing or maintaining timingAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO12synchronization with the AP 102. The AP 102 may provide access to external networks to various STAs 104 in the wireless communication network 100 via respective communication links 106.

[0036] To establish a communication link 106 with an AP 102, each of the STAs 104 is configured to perform passive or active scanning operations (“scans”) on frequency channels in one or more frequency bands (such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, or 60 GHz bands). To perform passive scanning, a STA 104 listens for beacons, which are transmitted by respective APs 102 at periodic time intervals referred to as target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). To perform active scanning, a STA 104 generates and sequentially transmits probe requests on each channel to be scanned and listens for probe responses from APs 102. Each STA 104 may identify, determine, ascertain, or select an AP 102 with which to associate in accordance with the scanning information obtained through the passive or active scans, and to perform authentication and association operations to establish a communication link 106 with the selected AP 102. The selected AP 102 assigns an association identifier (AID) to the STA 104 at the culmination of the association operations, which the AP 102 uses to track the STA 104.

[0037] As a result of the increasing ubiquity of wireless communication networks, a STA 104 may have the opportunity to select one of many BSSs within range of the STA 104 or to select among multiple APs 102 that together form an ESS including multiple connected BSSs. For example, the wireless communication network 100 may be connected to a wired or wireless distribution system that may enable multiple APs 102 to be connected in such an ESS. As such, a STA 104 can be covered by more than one AP 102 and can associate with different APs 102 at different times for different transmissions. Additionally, after association with an AP 102, a STA 104 also may periodically scan its surroundings to find a more suitable AP 102 with which to associate. For example, a STA 104 that is moving relative to its associated AP 102 may perform a “roaming” scan to find another AP 102 having more desirable network characteristics such as a greater received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or a reduced traffic load.

[0038] In some examples, STAs 104 may form networks without APs 102 or other equipment other than the STAs 104 themselves. One example of such a network is an ad hoc network (or wireless ad hoc network). Ad hoc networks may alternatively be Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO13referred to as mesh networks or P2P networks. In some examples, ad hoc networks may be implemented within a larger network such as the wireless communication network 100. In such examples, while the STAs 104 may be capable of communicating with each other through the AP 102 using communication links 106, STAs 104 also can communicate directly with each other via direct wireless communication links 110. Additionally, two STAs 104 may communicate via a direct wireless communication link 110 regardless of whether both STAs 104 are associated with and served by the same AP 102. In such an ad hoc system, one or more of the STAs 104 may assume the role filled by the AP 102 in a BSS. Such a STA 104 may be referred to as a group owner (GO) and may coordinate transmissions within the ad hoc network. Examples of direct wireless communication links 110 include Wi-Fi Direct connections, connections established by using a Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) link, and other P2P group connections.

[0039] In some networks, the AP 102 or the STAs 104, or both, may support applications associated with high throughput or low-latency requirements, or may provide lossless audio to one or more other devices. For example, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may support applications and use cases associated with ultra-low-latency (ULL), such as ULL gaming, or streaming lossless audio and video to one or more personal audio devices (such as peripheral devices) or AR / VR / MR / XR headset devices. In scenarios in which a user uses two or more peripheral devices, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may support an extended personal audio network enabling communication with the two or more peripheral devices. Additionally, the AP 102 and STAs 104 may support additional ULL applications such as cloud-based applications (such as VR cloud gaming) that have ULL and high throughput requirements.

[0040] As indicated above, in some implementations, the AP 102 and the STAs 104 may function and communicate (via the respective communication links 106) according to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. These standards define the WLAN radio and baseband protocols for the physical (PHY) and MAC layers. The AP 102 and STAs 104 transmit and receive wireless communications (hereinafter also referred to as “Wi-Fi communications” or “wireless packets”) to and from one another in the form of PPDUs.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO14

[0041] Each PPDU is a composite structure that includes a PHY preamble and a payload that is in the form of a PHY service data unit (PSDU). The information provided in the preamble may be used by a receiving device to decode the subsequent data in the PSDU. In instances in which a PPDU is transmitted over a bonded or wideband channel, the preamble fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of multiple component channels. The PHY preamble may include both a legacy portion (or “legacy preamble”) and a non-legacy portion (or “non-legacy preamble”). The legacy preamble may be used for packet detection, automatic gain control and channel estimation, among other uses. The legacy preamble also may generally be used to maintain compatibility with legacy devices. The format of, coding of, and information provided in the non-legacy portion of the preamble is associated with the particular IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol to be used to transmit the payload.

[0042] The APs 102 and STAs 104 in the wireless communication network 100 may transmit PPDUs over an unlicensed spectrum, which may be a portion of spectrum that includes frequency bands traditionally used by Wi-Fi technology, such as the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz bands. Some examples of the APs 102 and STAs 104 described herein also may communicate in other frequency bands that may support licensed or unlicensed communications. For example, the APs 102 or STAs 104, or both, also may be capable of communicating over licensed operating bands, with multiple operators potentially having respective licenses to operate in the same or overlapping frequency ranges. Such licensed operating bands may map to or be associated with frequency range designations of FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz -71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz).

[0043] Each of the frequency bands may include multiple sub-bands and frequency channels (also referred to as subchannels). The terms “channel” and “subchannel” may be used interchangeably herein, as each may refer to a portion of frequency spectrum within a frequency band (such as a 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz portion of frequency spectrum) via which communication between two or more wireless communication devices can occur. For example, PPDUs conforming to the IEEE 802.1 In, 802.1 lac, 802.1 lax, 802.11be and 802.11bn standard amendments may be transmitted over one or more of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz bands, each of which isAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO15divided into multiple 20 MHz channels. As such, these PPDUs are transmitted over a physical channel having a minimum bandwidth of 20 MHz, but larger channels can be formed through channel bonding. For example, PPDUs may be transmitted over physical channels having bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, 320 MHz, 480 MHz, or 640 MHz by bonding together multiple 20 MHz channels.

[0044] An AP 102 may determine or select an operating or operational bandwidth for the STAs 104 in its BSS and select a range of channels within a band to provide that operating bandwidth. For example, the AP 102 may select sixteen 20 MHz channels that collectively span an operating bandwidth of 320 MHz. Within the operating bandwidth, the AP 102 may typically select a single primary 20 MHz channel on which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 in its BSS monitor for contention-based access schemes. In some examples, the AP 102 or the STAs 104 may be capable of monitoring only a single primary 20 MHz channel for packet detection (such as for detecting preambles of PPDUs). Conventionally, any transmission by an AP 102 or a STA 104 within a BSS may involve transmission on the primary 20 MHz channel. As such, in conventional systems, the transmitting device may contend on and win a TXOP on the primary channel to transmit anything at all. However, some APs 102 and STAs 104 supporting ultra-high reliability (UHR) communications or communication according to the IEEE 802.1 Ibn standard amendment can be configured to operate, monitor, contend and communicate using multiple primary 20 MHz channels. Such monitoring of multiple primary 20 MHz channels may be sequential such that responsive to determining, ascertaining or detecting that a first primary 20 MHz channel is not available, a wireless communication device may switch to monitoring and contending using a second primary 20 MHz channel. Additionally, or alternatively, a wireless communication device may be configured to monitor multiple primary 20 MHz channels in parallel. In some examples, a first primary 20 MHz channel may be referred to as a main primary (M-Primary) channel and one or more additional, second primary channels may each be referred to as an opportunistic primary (O-Primary) channel. For example, if a wireless communication device measures, identifies, ascertains, detects, or otherwise determines that the M-Primary channel is busy or occupied (such as due to an overlapping BSS (OBSS) transmission), the wireless communication device may switch to monitoring and contending on an O-Primary channel. In some examples, the M-Primary channelAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO16may be used for beaconing and serving legacy client devices and an O-Primary channel may be specifically used by non-legacy (such as UHR- or IEEE 802.1 Ibn-compatible) devices for opportunistic access to spectrum that may be otherwise under-utilized.

[0045] In some wireless communication systems, wireless communication devices (such as an AP 102 and STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1) may operate via one or more wireless communication links in a frequency band higher than a sub-7 GHz (sub7, such as a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band, or a 6 GHz frequency band) frequency band. In some such wireless communication systems, the AP 102 and STAs 104 may communicate on a wireless communication link in a millimeter wave (“mmWave” or “mmW”) band (such as a frequency band between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, such as a 60 GHz frequency band). A wireless communication system supporting such mmWave communications (such as AP 102 and STAs 104 in wireless communication network 100) may use integrated mmWave (IMMW) techniques to support operations in these frequency bands. To manage the relatively high attenuation losses and other path losses associated with the mmWave band, the AP 102 and STAs 104 may transmit and receive directional communications via beamforming procedures. To select or otherwise generate directional beams in the mmWave band, a wireless communication device may perform beam sweeping, searching and training operations, which may involve various training and feedback reporting packet sequences. In some wireless communication systems, a mmWave link supports data communications while a sub7 link may be used for management and control information signaling to support the mmWave communications. For example, a STA 104 may first associate with an AP 102 to establish a sub7 link, and thereafter, perform beam searching and training in the mmWave band to establish a mmWave link for the communication of data. In such examples, the sub7 link may be referred to as an anchor link.

[0046] In addition to beam searching and training procedures, an AP 102 and a STA 104, after having selected a beam pair, may perform beam management and recovery procedures, including periodic beacon-based procedures and aperiodic STA-initiated fast link recovery procedures, which may involve the use of beam recovery sequences. The AP 102 and STAs 104 may use these beam management and recovery procedures for beam sync-up and identifying broken links. When communicating via a mmWaveAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO17link, the AP 102 and STAs 104 may perform various channel access procedures including contention-based access procedures, target wake time (TWT)-based access procedures (including the use of dedicated and opportunistic service periods (SPs)), scheduled-mode access procedures, and triggered-mode access procedures. The APs 102 and STAs 104 operating in the mmWave band also may support various management frame optimizations and procedures including optimizations and procedures associated with discovery, scanning, association, roaming, link setup, updates and maintenance, and the initial and continuing configuration of BSS and linkspecific parameters including channel selection and rate adaptation. To support or facilitate communication in the mmWave band, the APs 102 and STAs 104 also may make use of various PHY layer enhancements, such as additional bandwidth modes, numerologies, tone plans, preamble designs, codebook designs, waveform designs, new PPDU formats or reuse of existing sub-7 GHz PPDU formats for mmWave frequencies. Particular RF and analog designs, such as RF front end designs, antenna integration designs, and conversion architecture designs, may be implemented in APs 102 and STAs 104 to support mmWave operation.

[0047] In some examples, the wireless communication network 100 may provide long-range Wi-Fi connectivity to support one or more commercial applications, with such commercial applications including, for example, drone applications, loT applications, and / or applications pertaining to connectivity infrastructure in ISM and licensed bands. For example, an AP 102 may provide “last mile” (such as a last or final segment) connectivity infrastructure in ISM and licensed bands. In some examples, the AP 102 may support OFDMA and / or MU-MIMO communication technologies for one or more of such applications, with which the AP 102 may provide greater scheduling control, higher data rates, and / or reduced collision overhead in scenarios in which multiple devices communicate to the AP 102 (such as a controller).

[0048] In some deployments, the AP 102 may provide long-range Wi-Fi connectivity via a radio link using a mmW spectrum, which may facilitate high-speed internet to end users (such as one or more households and / or places of business, among other examples). In some examples, use of the mmW spectrum may enable a network to provide high-speed internet without or with fewer fiber-optic cables, which may involve a relatively higher installment cost as compared to mmW communication. TheAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO18AP 102 and a set of STAs 104 may use directional antenna configurations to enable high-capacity links using the mmW spectrum for long-range Wi-Fi communication between the AP 102 and the STAs 104. For example, some carriers may deploy a frequency planned infrastructure coupled with directional antennas to enable communication between end-points (such as between the AP 102 and a STA 104) with high-capacity links. An AP 102 and / or a STA 104 may operate a set of antennas, which may include omnidirectional antennas. The AP 102 and / or the STA 104 may configure (such as modulate) a respective phase and / or amplitude of each omnidirectional antenna to perform beamforming.

[0049] By way of further example, the AP 102 and a STA 104 may configure one or more respective antennas in a manner that focuses transmission and / or reception in a specific direction (such as a specific orientation). Such an antenna configuration may be understood as or otherwise associated with a configuration for directional communication. In accordance with a configuration for directional communication, the AP 102 and / or a STA 104 may transmit and / or receive wireless signaling using a beam, such as a directional communication beam. For example, each configuration for directional communication may be associated with a respective beam. A beam may be associated with a beamwidth, which may relate to a size of a geographic area to which the beam is oriented. For example, a relatively narrower beamwidth may correspond to (such as orient transmission to and / or reception from) a relatively smaller geographic area and a relatively wider beamwidth may correspond to (such as orient transmission to and / or reception from) a relatively larger geographic area.

[0050] In examples in which the wireless communication network 100 is an infrastructure network, the AP 102 and the STAs 104 may each be associated with a respective fixed (such as static) location. In such examples, the AP 102 may communicate with each of the STAs 104 using a beam associated with a relatively narrower beamwidth. For example, the AP 102 may direct transmission to and / or reception from a first STA 104 using a first beam specifically directed to a first location of the first STA 104 and may direct transmission to and / or reception from a second STA 104 using a second beam specifically directed to a second location of the second STA 104. Further, in examples in which the wireless communication network 100 is a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are each associated with aAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO19respective set of static network parameters for at least one discrete time interval (such that each device is associated with an approximately constant or non-changing set of network parameters for the discrete time interval), the AP 102 may likewise communicate with each of the STAs 104 using a beam associated with a relatively narrower beamwidth for at least the discrete time interval. In accordance with such directional communication, transmissions within the wireless communication network 100 may be hidden from some of the STAs 104. For example, transmissions between the AP 102 and the first STA 104 may be hidden from (such as non-detectable by) the second STA 104 and / or transmissions between the AP 102 and the second STA 104 may be hidden from (such as non-detectable by) the first STA 104.

[0051] A STA 104 may initiate a transmission in accordance with performing a successful clear channel assessment (CCA). For example, a STA 104 may measure an energy of a channel as part of performing a CCA and, in examples in which the STA 104 measures the energy of the channel to be less than or equal to an energy detection threshold, the STA 104 may determine the CCA as successful and initiate a transmission via the channel. With directional communication (within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which STAs are each associated with a respective set of approximately static network parameters for at least one discrete time interval), a STA 104 may not detect an ongoing transmission because energy associated with the transmission may be directed elsewhere. For example, the second STA 104 may not detect sufficient energy from a transmission between the AP 102 and the first STA 104 to determine the channel as busy, determine the channel as clear, and perform a transmission via the channel. Such a transmission by the second STA 104 may interfere with the ongoing transmission between the AP 102 and the first STA 104, resulting in a greater likelihood for unsuccessful communication between the AP 102 and the first STA 104.

[0052] To avoid or otherwise manage such interference caused by uplink channel contention within some wireless communication networks, an AP 102 and / or one or more STAs 104 may support one or more signaling- or configuration-based mechanisms according to which channel access by the AP 102 may be prioritized over channel access by the one or more STAs 104 and / or according to which the AP 102 and / or the one or more STAs 104 may switch between different beamwidths within a single frameAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO20exchange sequence. Such wireless communication networks may include infrastructure networks in which an AP and a set of STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or mobile networks in which an AP and / or a set of STAs are each associated with a respective set of approximately static network parameters for at least one discrete time interval. In examples in which the AP 102 and / or the one or more STAs 104 support mechanisms according to which channel access by the AP 102 is prioritized, the AP 102 may set one or more channel access parameters that increase a probability of the AP 102 to acquire channel access and / or decrease a probability of a STA 104 to acquire channel access. For example, the AP 102 may use one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are prioritized over one or more channel access parameters that STAs 104 may use. Such AP-specific channel access parameters may include an AIFSN, a lower limit CW size, and / or an upper limit CW size.

[0053] In examples in which the AP 102 and / or the one or more STAs 104 switch between different beamwidths within a single frame exchange sequence, the AP 102 and / or a STA 104 may communicate (such as transmit and / or receive) a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication and may communicate (such as transmit and / or receive) a second portion of the PPDU using a second configuration for directional communication. The first portion of the PPDU may be a preamble portion of the PPDU. The second portion of the PPDU may be a data portion of the PPDU. Additionally, or alternatively, the AP 102 may transmit a trigger frame using the first configuration for directional communication and may receive a TB PPDU solicited by the trigger frame using the second configuration for directional communication. The first configuration for directional communication may be associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication may be associated with a second beamwidth. The second beamwidth may be narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0054] Figure 2 shows an example protocol data unit (PDU) 200 usable for wireless communication between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. The PDU 200 can be configured as a PPDU. As shown, the PDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 202 and a PHY payload 204. For example, the preamble 202 may include a legacy portion that itself includes a legacy short training field (L-Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO21STF) 206, which may consist of two symbols, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 208, which may consist of two symbols, and a legacy signal field (L-SIG) 210, which may consist of two symbols. The legacy portion of the preamble 202 may be configured according to the IEEE 802.1 la wireless communication protocol standard. The preamble 202 also may include a non-legacy portion including one or more non-legacy fields 212, for example, conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.

[0055] The L-STF 206 generally enables a receiving device (such as an AP 102 or a STA 104) to perform coarse timing and frequency tracking and automatic gain control (AGC). The L-LTF 208 generally enables the receiving device to perform fine timing and frequency tracking and also to perform an initial estimate of the wireless channel. The L-SIG 210 generally enables the receiving device to determine (such as obtain, select, identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) a duration of the PDU and to use the determined duration to avoid transmitting on top of the PDU. The legacy portion of the preamble, including the L-STF 206, the L-LTF 208 and the L-SIG 210, may be modulated according to a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation scheme. The payload 204 may be modulated according to a BPSK modulation scheme, a quadrature BPSK (Q-BPSK) modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation scheme, or another appropriate modulation scheme. The payload 204 may include a PSDU including a data field (DATA) 214 that, in turn, may carry higher layer data, for example, in the form of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) or an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU).

[0056] In some implementations, an AP 102 may solicit the PDU 200 via a trigger frame. In such implementations, and in scenarios in which there is an absence of hidden nodes from which the PDU 200 is to be protected, a STA 104 may transmit the PDU 200 after excising (such as excluding) the PHY preamble 202. For example, in scenarios in which the PDU 200 is configured as a TB PPDU and in which there is an absence of hidden nodes, the STA 104 may transmit the PDU 200 without the PHY preamble 202. In other words, the PDU 200 may include (such as consist of) the PHY payload 204 and may exclude the PHY preamble 202. In some aspects, the STA 104 may exclude the PHY preamble 202 from the PDU 200 in accordance with a content or information provided via the PHY preamble 202 being redundant with a content orAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO1information provided via the trigger frame that solicits the PDU 200. Additional details relating to such a preamble exclusion are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figure 11.

[0057] Figure 3 shows an example PPDU 350 usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. As shown, the PPDU 350 includes a PHY preamble, that includes a legacy portion 352 and a non-legacy portion 354, and a payload 356 that includes a data field 374. The legacy portion 352 of the preamble includes an L-STF 358, an L-LTF 360, and an L-SIG 362. The non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble includes a repetition of L-SIG (RL-SIG) 364, a universal signal field 366 (referred to herein as “U-SIG 366”) and a UHR signal field 368 (referred to herein as “UHR-SIG 368”). The presence of RL-SIG 364 and U-SIG 366 may indicate to UHR or later version-compliant STAs 104 that the PPDU 350 is a UHR PPDU or a PPDU conforming to any later (post-UHR) version of a new wireless communication protocol conforming to a future IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol standard. One or both of U-SIG 366 and UHR-SIG 368 may be structured as, and carry version-dependent information for, other wireless communication protocol versions associated with amendments to the IEEE family of standards beyond UHR. For example, U-SIG 366 may be used by a receiving device (such as an AP 102 or a STA 104) to interpret bits in one or more of UHR-SIG 368 or the data field 374. U-SIG 366 may include one or more universal, version-independent fields and one or more version-dependent fields. Information in the universal fields may include, for example, a version identifier (starting from the IEEE 802.1 Ibe amendment and beyond) and channel occupancy and coexistence information (such as a punctured channel indication). The version-dependent fields may include format information fields used for interpreting other fields of U-SIG 366 and UHR-SIG 368 and additional information fields or SU-specific fields that may be useful to intended recipients. In some implementations, the version-dependent fields may include at least a PPDU format field to indicate a general PPDU format for the PPDU 350 (such as a trigger-based (TB), an SU, or a multi-user (MU) PPDU format). Like L-STF 358, L-LTF 360, and L-SIG 362, the information in U-SIG 366 and UHR-SIG 368 may beAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO23duplicated and transmitted in each of the component 20 MHz channels in instances involving the use of a bonded channel.

[0058] The non-legacy portion 354 further includes an additional short training field 370 (referred to herein as “UHR-STF 370,” although it may be structured as, and carry version-dependent information for, other wireless communication protocol versions beyond UHR) and one or more additional long training fields 372 (referred to herein as “UHR-LTFs 372,” although they may be structured as, and carry version-dependent information for, other wireless communication protocol versions beyond UHR). UHR-STF 370 may be used for timing and frequency tracking and AGC, and UHR-LTF 372 may be used for more refined channel estimation.

[0059] UHR-SIG 368 may be used by an AP 102 to identify and inform one or multiple STAs 104 that the AP 102 has scheduled uplink (UU) or downlink (DL) resources for them. UHR-SIG 368 may be decoded by each compatible STA 104 served by the AP 102. UHR-SIG 368 also may generally be used by the receiving device to interpret bits in the data field 374. For example, UHR-SIG 368 may include resource unit (RU) allocation information, spatial stream configuration information, and per-user (such as STA-specific) signaling information. Each UHR-SIG 368 may include a common field and at least one user-specific field. In the context of OFDMA, the common field can indicate RU distributions to multiple STAs 104, indicate the RU assignments in the frequency domain, indicate which RUs are allocated for MU-MIMO transmissions and which RUs correspond to OFDMA transmissions, and the number of users in allocations, among other examples. The user-specific fields are assigned to particular STAs 104 and carry STA-specific scheduling information such as userspecific MCS values and user-specific RU allocation information. Such information enables the respective STAs 104 to identify and decode corresponding RUs in the associated data field 374.

[0060] In some wireless communications systems, a STA 104 or an AP 102 may transmit the PPDU 350 over bandwidths larger than the 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz bandwidths supported by previous generations of IEEE-compliant wireless communication systems. For example, the PPDU 350 may support 480 MHz or 640 MHz bandwidth communications. By increasing the channel bandwidth of the PPDU 350 to 480 MHz or 640 MHz, more data may be transmitted Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO24because more or larger RUs are available based on the larger bandwidth, and accordingly, higher peak throughput or increased capacity may be achieved. Parameters for assembling and transmitting the 480 MHz or 640 MHz PPDUs may be defined to account for the larger bandwidths. For example, parameters or designs such as the tone plans, resource unit allocation indications, spatial reuse fields, UHR-STFs 370, UHR-LTFs 372, pilot signal locations, phase shifts, and spectral masks may be optimized or otherwise selected in accordance with the 480 MHz or 640 MHz bandwidths. In some examples, the spatial reuse fields may enable multiple BSSs to operate on the same 480 MHz or 640 MHz bandwidth channels.

[0061] In some implementations, an AP 102 may solicit the PPDU 350 via a trigger frame. In such implementations, and in scenarios in which there is an absence of hidden nodes from which the PPDU 350 is to be protected, a STA 104 may transmit the PPDU 350 after excising (such as excluding) at least a portion of the PHY preamble, such as excising the legacy portion 352 and / or the non-legacy portion 354. For example, in scenarios in which the PPDU 350 is configured as a TB PPDU and in which there is an absence of hidden nodes, the STA 104 may transmit the PPDU 350 without the legacy portion 352 of the preamble and / or the non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble. In other words, the PPDU 350 may include (such as consist of) the payload 356 and may exclude the legacy portion 352 of the preamble and / or the non-legacy portion 354 of the preamble. In some aspects, the STA 104 may exclude at least a portion of the PHY preamble from the PPDU 350 in accordance with a content or information provided via the portion of the PHY preamble being redundant with a content or information provided via the trigger frame that solicits the PPDU 350. Additional details relating to such a preamble exclusion are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figure 11.

[0062] Figure 4 shows a hierarchical format of an example PPDU usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs. For example, the AP and STAs may be examples of the AP 102 and the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1. As described, each PPDU 400 includes a PHY preamble 402 and a PSDU 404. Each PSDU 404 may represent (or “carry”) one or more MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) 416. For example, each PSDU 404 may carry an aggregated MPDU (A-MPDU) 406 that includes an aggregation of multiple A-MPDU subframesAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO25408. Each A-MPDU subframe 408 may include an MPDU frame 410 that includes a MAC delimiter 412 and a MAC header 414 prior to the accompanying MPDU 416, which includes the data portion (“payload” or “frame body”) of the MPDU frame 410. Each MPDU frame 410 also may include a frame check sequence (FCS) field 418 for error detection (such as the FCS field 418 may include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)) and padding bits 420. The MPDU 416 may carry one or more MAC service data units (MSDUs) 430. For example, the MPDU 416 may carry an aggregated MSDU (A-MSDU) 422 including multiple A-MSDU subframes 424. Each A-MSDU subframe 424 may be associated with an MSDU frame 426 and may contain a corresponding MSDU 430 preceded by a subframe header 428 and, in some examples, followed by padding bits 432.

[0063] Referring back to the MPDU frame 410, the MAC delimiter 412 may serve as a marker of the start of the associated MPDU 416 and indicate the length of the associated MPDU 416. The MAC header 414 may include multiple fields containing information that defines or indicates characteristics or attributes of data encapsulated within the frame body. The MAC header 414 includes a duration field indicating a duration extending from the end of the PPDU until at least the end of an acknowledgement (ACK) or Block ACK (BA) of the PPDU that is to be transmitted by the receiving wireless communication device. The use of the duration field serves to reserve the wireless medium for the indicated duration and enables the receiving device to establish its NAV. The MAC header 414 also includes one or more fields indicating addresses for the data encapsulated within the frame body. For example, the MAC header 414 may include a combination of a source address, a transmitter address, a receiver address or a destination address. The MAC header 414 may further include a frame control field containing control information. The frame control field may specify a frame type, for example, a data frame, a control frame, or a management frame.

[0064] In some wireless communication systems, wireless communication between an AP 102 and an associated STA 104 can be secured. For example, either an AP 102 or a STA 104 may establish a security key for securing wireless communication between itself and the other device and may encrypt the contents of the data and management frames using the security key. In some examples, the control frame and fields within the MAC header of the data or management frames, or both, also may beAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO26secured either via encryption or via an integrity check (such as by generating a message integrity check (MIC) for one or more relevant fields.

[0065] Access to the shared wireless medium is generally governed by a distributed coordination function (DCF). With a DCF, there is generally no centralized master device allocating time and frequency resources of the shared wireless medium. On the contrary, before a wireless communication device, such as an AP 102 or a STA 104, is permitted to transmit data, it may wait for a particular time and contend for access to the wireless medium. The DCF is implemented through the use of time intervals (including the slot time (or “slot interval”) and the inter-frame space (IFS). IFS provides priority access for control frames used for proper network operation. Transmissions may begin at slot boundaries. Different varieties of IFS exist including the short IFS (SIFS), the distributed IFS (DIFS), the extended IFS (EIFS), and the arbitration IFS (AIFS). The values for the slot time and IFS may be provided by a suitable standard specification, such as one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.

[0066] In some examples, the wireless communication device (such as the AP 102 or the STA 104) may implement the DCF through the use of carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) with collision avoidance (CA) (CSMA / CA) techniques. According to such techniques, before transmitting data, the wireless communication device may perform a CCA and may determine (such as identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) that the relevant wireless channel is idle. The CCA includes both physical (PHY-level) carrier sensing and virtual (MAC-level) carrier sensing. Physical carrier sensing is accomplished via a measurement of the received signal strength of a valid frame, which is compared to a threshold to determine (such as identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) whether the channel is busy. For example, if the received signal strength of a detected preamble is above a threshold, the medium is considered busy. Physical carrier sensing also includes energy detection. Energy detection involves measuring the total energy the wireless communication device receives regardless of whether the received signal represents a valid frame. If the total energy detected is above a threshold, the medium is considered busy.

[0067] Virtual carrier sensing is accomplished via the use of a NAV, which effectively serves as a time duration that elapses before the wireless communication Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO27device may contend for access even in the absence of a detected symbol or even if the detected energy is below the relevant threshold. The NAV is reset each time a valid frame is received that is not addressed to the wireless communication device. When the NAV reaches 0, the wireless communication device performs the physical carrier sensing. If the channel remains idle for the appropriate IFS, the wireless communication device initiates a backoff timer, which represents a duration of time that the device senses the medium to be idle before it is permitted to transmit. If the channel remains idle until the backoff timer expires, the wireless communication device becomes the holder (or “owner”) of a transmit opportunity (TXOP) and may begin transmitting. The TXOP is the duration of time the wireless communication device can transmit frames over the channel after it has “won” contention for the wireless medium. The TXOP duration may be indicated in the U-SIG field of a PPDU. If, on the other hand, one or more of the carrier sense mechanisms indicate that the channel is busy, a MAC controller within the wireless communication device will not permit transmission.

[0068] Each time the wireless communication device generates a new PPDU for transmission in a new TXOP, it randomly selects a new backoff timer duration. The available distribution of the numbers that may be randomly selected for the backoff timer is referred to as the CW. There are different CW and TXOP durations for each of the four access categories (ACs): voice (AC_VO), video (AC VI), background(AC BK), and best effort (AC BE). This enables particular types of traffic to be prioritized in the network.

[0069] In some other examples, the wireless communication device (such as the AP 102 or the STA 104) may contend for access to the wireless medium of a WLAN in accordance with an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) procedure. A random channel access mechanism such as EDCA may afford high-priority traffic a greater likelihood of gaining medium access than low-priority traffic. The wireless communication device using EDCA may classify data into different access categories. Each AC may be associated with a different priority level and may be assigned a different range of random backoffs (RBOs) so that higher priority data is more likely to win a TXOP than lower priority data (such as by assigning lower RBOs to higher priority data and assigning higher RBOs to lower priority data). Although EDCA increases the likelihood that low-latency data traffic will gain access to a sharedAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO28wireless medium during a given contention period, unpredictable outcomes of medium access contention operations may prevent low-latency applications from achieving certain levels of throughput or satisfying certain latency requirements.

[0070] APs 102 and STAs 104 that include multiple antennas also may support beamforming. Beamforming generally refers to the steering of the energy of a transmission in the direction of a target receiver. Beamforming may be used both in an SU context, for example, to improve a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), as well as in a multiuser (MU) context, for example, to enable MU-MIMO transmissions (also referred to as spatial division multiple access (SDMA)). In the MU-MIMO context, beamforming may additionally, or alternatively, involve the nulling out of energy in the directions of other receiving devices. To perform SU beamforming or MU-MIMO, a transmitting device, referred to as the beamformer, transmits a signal from each of multiple antennas. The beamformer configures the amplitudes and phase shifts between the signals transmitted from the different antennas such that the signals add constructively along particular directions towards the intended receiver (referred to as the beamformee) or add destructively in other directions towards other devices to mitigate interference in a MU-MIMO context. The manner in which the beamformer configures the amplitudes and phase shifts depends on channel state information (CSI) associated with the wireless channels over which the beamformer intends to communicate with the beamformee.

[0071] To obtain the CSI for beamforming, the beamformer may perform a channel sounding procedure with the beamformee. For example, the beamformer may transmit one or more sounding signals (such as in the form of a null data packet (NDP)) to the beamformee. An NDP is a PPDU without any data field. The beamformee may perform measurements for each of the NTxx NRxsub-channels corresponding to all of the transmit antenna and receive antenna pairs associated with the sounding signal. The beamformee generates a feedback matrix associated with the channel measurements and, typically, compresses the feedback matrix before transmitting the feedback to the beamformer. The beamformer may generate a precoding (or “steering”) matrix for the beamformee associated with the feedback and use the steering matrix to precode the data streams to configure the amplitudes and phase shifts for subsequent transmissions to the beamformee. The beamformer may use the steering matrix to determine (such as identify, detect, ascertain, calculate, or compute) how to transmit a signal on each of itsAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO29antennas to perform beamforming. For example, the steering matrix may be indicative of a phase shift, or a power level, to use to transmit a respective signal on each of the beamformer’s antennas.

[0072] When performing beamforming, the transmitting beamforming array gain is logarithmically proportional to the ratio of NTxto Nss. As such, it is generally desirable, within other constraints, to increase the number NTxof transmit antennas when performing beamforming to increase the gain. It is also possible to more accurately direct transmissions or nulls by increasing the number of transmit antennas. This is especially advantageous in MU transmission contexts in which it is particularly important to reduce inter-user interference.

[0073] Some processes, methods, operations, techniques or other aspects described herein may be implemented, at least in part, using an artificial intelligence (Al) program, such as a program that includes a machine learning (ML) or artificial neural network (ANN) model, hereinafter referred to generally as an AI / ML model. One or more AI / ML models may be implemented in wireless communication devices (such as APs 102 and STAs 104) to enhance various aspects associated with wireless communication. For example, an AI / ML model may be trained to identify patterns or relationships in data observed in a wireless communication network 100. An AI / ML model may support operational decisions implemented by one or more wireless communication devices relating to aspects described herein that are associated with wireless communication networks or services. For example, an AI / ML model may be utilized for supporting or improving aspects such as reducing signaling overhead (such as by CSI feedback compression), enhancing roaming or other mobility operations, multi-AP coordination, and generally facilitating network management or optimizing network connections or characteristics to, for example, increase throughput or capacity, reduce latency or otherwise enhance user experience.

[0074] In some implementations, an AP 102 may solicit the PPDU 400 via a trigger frame. In such implementations, and in scenarios in which there is an absence of hidden nodes from which the PPDU 400 is to be protected, a STA 104 may transmit the PPDU 400 after excising (such as excluding) the PHY preamble 402. For example, in scenarios in which the PPDU 400 is configured as a TB PPDU and in which there is anAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO30absence of hidden nodes, the STA 104 may transmit the PPDU 400 without the PHY preamble 402. In other words, the PPDU 400 may include (such as consist of) the PSDU 404 and may exclude the PHY preamble 402. In some aspects, the STA 104 may exclude the PHY preamble 402 from the PPDU 400 in accordance with a content or information provided via the PHY preamble 402 being redundant with a content or information provided via the trigger frame that solicits the PPDU 400. Additional details relating to such a preamble exclusion are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figure 11.

[0075] Additionally, or alternatively, an AP 102 or a STA 104 may transmit the PPDU 400 in accordance with multiple different configurations for directional communication (such as using multiple different directional beams). In such implementations in which an AP 102 or a STA 104 transmits the PPDU 400 in accordance with multiple different configurations for directional communication, the AP 102 or the STA 104 may transmit a first portion of the PPDU 400 in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication and may transmit a second portion of the PPDU 400 in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the first portion of the PPDU 400 may be the PHY preamble 402 and the second portion of the PPDU 400 may be the PSDU 404.Additional details relating to such a multi-beam PPDU transmission are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figure 9.

[0076] Figure 5 shows an example wireless communication network 500 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The wireless communication network 500 illustrates a network in which an AP 102 provides network service to a set of STAs 104, with the AP 102 and the STAs 104 each being associated with a respective fixed location or each being associated with a respective set of approximately static network parameters for at least one discrete time interval. For example, the AP 102 may be a base station (as part of, for example, a RAN) and each of the STAs 104 may be mounted, located, or otherwise positioned at various (fixed) locations (such as mounted in line-of-sight (LOS) of the AP 102, such as on top of one or more buildings). The AP 102 and the STAs 104 of the wireless communication network 500 may be examples of corresponding devices as illustrated and describedAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO31herein. The AP 102 and the STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 500 may communicate via a mmW frequency band.

[0077] The AP 102 may serve the STAs 104 across a set of sectors including a first sector 502-a, a second sector 502-b, and a third sector 502-c. Each of the first sector 502-a, the second sector 502-b, and the third sector 502-c may be associated with a respective X° span of coverage from the AP 102, with X being any numeric value, such as any numeric value within an inclusive range of approximately 60-120. By way of example, and as illustrated in the wireless communication network 500, each of the first sector 502-a, the second sector 502-b, and the third sector 502-c may be associated with a respective approximately 120° span of coverage from the AP 102.

[0078] The wireless communication network 500 may be a Wi-Fi-based network that uses (such as is associated with) a CSMA-based framework, such as a CSMA-CA-based framework. CSMA (such as CSMA-CA) may be a network protocol that allows multiple devices (such as two or more of the AP 102 and the set of STAs 104) to share a channel by determining whether the channel is currently being used prior to performing a transmission. With CSMA, the AP 102 and the STAs 104 may attempt to prevent collisions by sensing whether the channel is clear (or busy) prior to performing a transmission. In examples in which the AP 102 or a STA 104 senses the channel to be clear, the AP 102 or the STA 104 may initiate a transmission sequence (such as by selecting an RBO and performing a transmission upon expiration of the RBO). In examples in which the AP 102 or a STA 104 senses the channel to be busy, the AP 102 or the STA 104 may defer a transmission to a later time (such as by setting a NAV, among other examples).

[0079] In the example of the wireless communication network 500, downlink communication from the AP 102 to a STA 104 may be visible to a set of STAs 104 within a sector and uplink communication from a STA 104 to the AP 102 may be hidden from other STAs 104 within the sector. For example, the AP 102 may use a relatively wider beamwidth for downlink communication to a STA 104 and a STA 104 may use a relatively narrower beamwidth for uplink communication to the AP 102, with transmissions using wider beamwidths being detectable across a larger area as compared to transmissions using narrower beamwidths. For example, the AP 102 may transmit downlink signaling to one or more STAs 104 using one or more of a beam Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO32504-a, a beam 504-b, a beam 504-c, a beam 504-d, a beam 504-e, and a beam 504-f. In the example of the wireless communication network 500, each of the beam 504-a, the beam 504-b, the beam 504-c, the beam 504-d, the beam 504-e, and the beam 504-f may correspond to a respective approximately 60° sector. In examples in which each of the first sector 502-a, the second sector 502-b, and the third sector 502-c are associated with a respective approximately 120° coverage span, each of the beam 504-a, the beam 504-b, the beam 504-c, the beam 504-d, the beam 504-e, and the beam 504-f may correspond to a respective approximately 60° sub-sector within a sector. For uplink communication, a STA 104 may use a set of antennas (such as a set of antenna elements and / or a set of antenna panels) to maintain a high-gain, narrow beam (such as approximately 15%).

[0080] In accordance with uplink communication from a STA 104 to the AP 102 being hidden from other STAs 104 within a sector, the AP 102 and the STA 104 may use an RTS / CTS frame exchange (which may be referred to as an RTS / CTS sequence) to protect the wireless communication network 500 from packet collisions. Adding an RTS / CTS frame exchange may adversely affect a net capacity of at least the sector (and, by extension, the wireless communication network 500). For example, an RTS frame may protect at most a single packet (such as a single PPDU). Without an RTS frame, the wireless communication network 500 may support more (such as 4) PPDUs per contention. Operators of some networks, such as networks that operate in a mmW frequency band and / or a licensed band (such as a mmW licensed band), may be unable or unwilling to tolerate such a detriment to a net capacity caused by using an RTS / CTS frame exchange to protect each PPDU. For example, refraining from performing an RTS and / or a CTS transmission may increase a network capacity by approximately 2.5%, which may be an equivalent of adding 10 more users per 120° sector (and, by extension, 30 more users per AP 102). Such a loss of network capacity may adversely impact overall data throughput and / or network performance.

[0081] In some implementations, the AP 102 and / or one or more of the STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 500 may support one or more signaling- or configuration-based mechanisms according to which the AP 102 and / or the one or more STAs 104 may manage (such as control, prevent, or otherwise influence) uplink channel contention within the wireless communication network 500. Such signaling- orAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO33configuration-based mechanisms may include mechanisms associated with a channel access procedure, a packet detection procedure, uplink scheduling, and / or variablewidth beamforming within a single frame exchange sequence, among other aspects. Additional details related to such mechanisms are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figures 7-11.

[0082] Figure 6 shows an example wireless communication network 600 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The wireless communication network 600 illustrates a network in which an AP 102 provides network service to a set of STAs 104, with the AP 102 and the STAs 104 each being associated with a respective fixed location or each being associated with a respective set of approximately static network parameters for at least one discrete time interval. For example, the AP 102 may be a base station (as part of, for example, a RAN) and each of the STAs 104 may be mounted, located, or otherwise positioned at various (fixed) locations (such as mounted in LOS of the AP 102, such as on top of one or more buildings). The AP 102 and the STAs 104 of the wireless communication network 600 may be examples of corresponding devices as illustrated and described herein. The AP 102 and the STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 600 may communicate via a mmW frequency band.

[0083] The AP 102 may serve the STAs 104 across a set of sectors including a first sector 602-a, a second sector 602-b, and a third sector 602-c. Each of the first sector 602-a, the second sector 602-b, and the third sector 602-c may be associated with a respective X° span of coverage from the AP 102, with X being any numeric value, such as any numeric value within an inclusive range of approximately 60-120. By way of example, and as illustrated in the wireless communication network 600, each of the first sector 602-a, the second sector 602-b, and the third sector 602-c may be associated with a respective approximately 120° span of coverage from the AP 102.

[0084] The wireless communication network 600 may be a Wi-Fi-based network that uses (such as is associated with) a TDM-based framework (such as a TDMA-based framework) in addition to, or as an alternative from, a CSMA-based framework. In accordance with a TDM-based framework, the AP 102 may schedule communication between the AP 102 and the STAs 104 over time. With a TDM-based framework, multiple devices (such as two or more of the AP 102 and the STAs 104) may share a Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO34channel by dividing a communication timeline into discrete time slots and allocating each device with one or more time slots within which that device may perform a transmission.

[0085] In the example of the wireless communication network 600, downlink communication from the AP 102 to a STA 104 may be hidden from STAs 104 (except for a STA 104 to which the AP 102 is transmitting) and uplink communication from a STA 104 to the AP 102 may be hidden from other STAs 104. For example, the AP 102 may use relatively narrow beams to transmit downlink signaling to the STAs 104 and a STA 104 also may use relatively narrow beams to transmit uplink signaling to the AP 102. The AP 102 may form a narrow beam to each STA 104 within the wireless communication network 600 at a time of transmitting to that STA 104 (in a TDM fashion), which may increase an overall link budget of a link between the AP 102 and that STA 104. Such narrow beams that the AP 102 may use to transmit downlink signaling to the STAs 104 may include a beam 604-a, a beam 604-b, a beam 604-c, a beam 604-d, a beam 604-e, a beam 604-f, and a beam 604-g.

[0086] For example, within one or more first slots (such as one or more first discrete time intervals), the AP 102 may transmit to a first STA 104 using a first narrow beam (such as a beam 604-a) directed to a first location of the first STA 104 and, within one or more second slots (such as one or more second discrete time intervals), the AP 102 may transmit to a second STA 104 using a second narrow beam (such as a beam 604-f) directed to a second location of the second STA 104. In such examples, the AP 102 may switch one or more RF components or configurations between different beams across time. In other words, the wireless communication network 600 may support TDMA with dynamic STA-specific beams.

[0087] In accordance with both uplink communication and downlink communication using relatively narrow beams that are receiver-specific, such that both uplink and downlink transmissions may be hidden from STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 600, an RTS / CTS frame exchange may be unable to protect transmitted packets from collisions. For example, the AP 102 and a STA 104 may transmit and / or receive the RTS and CTS frames via a relatively narrow beam such that the RTS and CTS frames may be hidden from (such as non-detectable by) other STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 600. In such examples, a first STA 104Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO35may mistakenly determine that a channel is clear while the AP 102 and a second STA 104 have ongoing communication, which may result in the first STA 104 attempting a transmission to the AP 102 (and unknowingly causing interference to the communication between the AP 102 and the second STA 104).

[0088] In some implementations, the AP 102 and / or one or more of the STAs 104 within the wireless communication network 600 may support one or more signaling- or configuration-based mechanisms according to which the AP 102 and / or the one or more STAs 104 may manage (such as control, prevent, or otherwise influence) uplink channel contention within the wireless communication network 600. Such signaling- or configuration-based mechanisms may include mechanisms associated with a channel access procedure, a packet detection procedure, uplink scheduling, and / or variablewidth beamforming within a single frame exchange sequence, among other aspects. Additional details related to such mechanisms are illustrated and described herein, including by and with reference to Figures 7-11.

[0089] Figure 7 shows an example communication timeline 700 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The communication timeline 700 illustrates communication between an AP 102 and a STA 104, which may be examples of corresponding devices as illustrated and described herein. In some implementations, the AP 102 may set (such as select, determine, or configure) one or more channel access parameters to prioritize channel acquisition by the AP 102. For example, the AP 102 may use one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that increase a probability that the AP 102 acquires channel access and / or decreases (or eliminates) a probability that the STA 104 acquires channel access. The AP 102 and the STA 104 may communicate in accordance with the communication timeline 700 in association with operating within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are at least approximately stationary for at least one discrete time interval, such as the wireless communication network 500 and / or the wireless communication network 600.

[0090] The AP 102 may use the one or more AP-specific channel access parameters to manage contention by STAs 104 in the uplink direction. The one or more AP-specific channel access parameters may include an AIFSN value, a lower limit CW size, and / or an upper limit CW size. In some examples, the AP 102 may manage channel Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO36contention by the STA 104 (such as prevent the STA 104 from contending for the channel) by setting an AIFSN value to be equal to a first value and / or by setting one or both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to a second value. Such first and second values may be any numeric values. In some implementations, the first value may be a zero value, and the second value may be a 1 value.

[0091] The AP 102 may determine (such as calculate) an AIFS as equal to a summation of an SIFS and a quantity of slots, with the quantity of slots being associated with the AIFSN value. An AIFS may define an amount of time between an end of a previous transmission and a beginning of an RBO countdown. For example, the AP 102 may determine an AIFS in accordance with Equation 1, below.AIFS = 1 SIFS + X * Slot Time (x)

[0092] In the example of Equation 1, X may be representative of an AIFSN value. A duration of the slot time may be associated with an encoding technique used by the AP 102. In some implementations, the AP 102 may set the AIFSN value to be equal to zero. For example, an AIFSN value of zero (such as X = 0) may be an example of an AP-specific channel access parameter. The AP 102 may use such an AP-specific channel access parameter instead of one or more other channel access parameters, such as instead of one or more AC-specific channel access parameters. In other words, the AP 102 may use the AP-specific channel access parameter of AIFSN = 0 instead of an AC-specific AIFSN value associated with the traffic (intended or scheduled to be) communicated by the AP 102. In implementations in which the AP 102 sets the AIFSN value equal to zero, the AIFS used by the AP 102 may be equal to a single SIFS.

[0093] The AP 102 may select an RBO value from an inclusive range of values defined by a lower limit CW size and an upper limit CW size. For example, the AP 102 may randomly select a backoff value (an RBO value) from the inclusive range of values defined by a lower limit CW size (which may be understood as CWmin) and an upper limit CW size (which may be understood as CWmax). In some implementations, the AP 102 may set both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to 1 slot. For example, lower and upper limit CW sizes equal to 1 slot may be examples of AP-specific channel access parameters. The AP 102 may use such AP-specific channel access parameters instead of one or more other channel access parameters, such asAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO37instead of one or more AC-specific channel access parameters. In other words, the AP 102 may use the AP-specific channel access parameters of CWmin = CWmax = 1 instead of AC-specific CWmin and CWmax sizes associated with the traffic (intended or scheduled to be) communicated by the AP 102. In implementations in which the AP 102 sets CWmin = CWmax = 1, the AP 102 may regularly use an RBO value of 1.Further, in some implementations, the AP 102 may regularly use CWmin = CWmax = 1 regardless of a collision. For example, in the event the AP 102 experiences a packet collision, the AP 102 may refrain from increasing the upper limit CW size and may instead maintain the upper limit CW size as being equal to 1 slot.

[0094] In accordance with using the one or more AP-specific channel access parameters, the AP 102 may transmit downlink signaling 702 and, a SIFS 704 after the downlink signaling 702, may select an RBO 706. In some examples, the AP 102 may select the RBO 706 the SIFS 704 after the downlink signaling 702 in association with setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero. In some examples, the AP 102 may select the RBO 706 in association with setting the lower limit CW size and / or the upper limit CW size to be equal to 1 slot. In examples in which both the lower limit and upper limit CW sizes are set equal to 1 slot, the AP 102 may select the RBO 706 to be equal to 1 slot. In accordance with the AIFSN value being equal to zero and the RBO 706 being equal to 1 slot, the RBO 706 at the AP 102 may reach zero prior to an AIFS 708 from the end of the downlink signaling 702 at the STA 104 (as the STA 104 may use a nonzero AIFSN value, a lower limit CW size of greater than 1 slot, and / or an upper limit CW size of greater than 1 slot). The downlink signaling 702 may include one or more frames (such as one or more trigger and / or management frames) and / or one or more PPDUs.

[0095] In accordance with the RBO 706 at the AP 102 reaching zero, the AP 102 may successfully acquire the channel and transmit downlink signaling 710. The downlink signaling 710 may include one or more frames (such as one or more trigger and / or management frames) and / or one or more PPDUs. In accordance with the AP 102 transmitting the downlink signaling 710, the STA 104 may measure the channel as busy after the expiration of the AIFS 708. In examples in which the STA 104 measures the channel as busy, the STA 104 may perform a channel access deferment 712. For example, the STA 104 may defer a transmission of uplink signaling in accordance withAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO38measuring the channel as busy. The STA 104 may defer the transmission of the uplink signaling to at least an end of the downlink signaling 710, if not longer. After the channel access deferment 712, the STA 104 may re-attempt to acquire the channel. The STA 104 may attempt to acquire the channel using one or more STA-specific channel access parameters, which may correspond to an AC associated with uplink traffic at the STA, and which may be deprioritized channel access parameters as compared to the AP-specific channel access parameters. Such uplink signaling may include one or more PPDUs.

[0096] Figure 8 shows an example communication timeline 800 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The communication timeline 800 illustrates communication between an AP 102, a STA 104-a, and a STA 104-b, which may be examples of corresponding devices as illustrated and described herein. In some implementations, the AP 102 may communicate with the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b in accordance with one or more signaling- or configuration-based mechanisms according to which the AP 102 may manage uplink channel contention from the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b. The AP 102, the STA 104-a, and the STA 104-b may communicate in accordance with the communication timeline 800 in association with operating within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are at least approximately stationary for at least one discrete time interval, such as the wireless communication network 500 and / or the wireless communication network 600.

[0097] The AP 102 may transmit one or more buffer status report (BSR) poll trigger frames to solicit a respective BSR from each of the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b. In association with receiving the one or more BSR poll trigger frames, the STA 104-a may transmit a BSR 804 and the STA 104-b may transmit a BSR 806. The BSR 804 may include information indicative of an amount of uplink data buffered (such as ready for transmission) at the STA 104-a. The BSR 806 may include information indicative of an amount of uplink data buffered (such as ready for transmission) at the STA 104-b.

[0098] In association with receiving the BSR 804 and the BSR 806 from the STA 104-a and the STA 104-b, respectively, the AP 102 may transmit one or more scheduling frames 808. The one or more scheduling frames 808 may include scheduling information associated with uplink data from the STA 104-a and / or the STAAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO39104-b. For example, the AP 102 may use the one or more scheduling frames 808 to schedule uplink data from the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b. The one or more scheduling frames 808 may include multiple frames or may consist of a single frame. The AP 102 may transmit the one or more scheduling frames 808 consecutively or non-consecutively (such that there may be time gaps between the one or more scheduling frames 808). The one or more scheduling frames 808 may include one or more management frames and / or one or more trigger frames, among other examples.

[0099] The AP 102 may use the one or more BSR poll trigger frames 802 and / or the one or more scheduling frames 808 to actively poll the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b for buffer status and schedule uplink traffic periodically based on the buffer status indicated by the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b. For example, in association with receiving the one or more scheduling frames 808, the STA 104-a may transmit a PPDU 812 (which may be a TB PPDU) and the STA 104-b may transmit a PPDU 814 (which may be a TB PPDU). In some implementations, the AP 102 may use triggered transmissions for uplink traffic (such as all uplink traffic, such as uplink traffic including ACKs associated with downlink PPDUs). In such implementations, the AP 102 may transmit one or more trigger frames to solicit uplink transmissions, including uplink PPDUs and ACKs associated with downlink PPDUs, from the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b. The AP 102 may implement a timing advance mechanism at the STAs 104 to schedule (such as facilitate) time-aligned packet arrival for uplink trigger response frames (such as uplink PPDUs and / or uplink ACKs) to be received at the AP 102 (and processed) successfully. In some aspects, because a response to a trigger frame may arrive at a deterministic time interval from the end of the trigger frame, packet detection at one or more receivers of the AP 102 may be unnecessary.

[0100] In some implementations, in accordance with actively polling and scheduling uplink traffic from the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b, the AP 102 may desensitize one or more receivers of the AP 102 to ignore any non-complying transmissions from STAs 104 that were not scheduled by the AP 102. In such implementations, the AP 102 may refrain from processing any of such non-complying transmissions from STAs 104 that were not scheduled by the AP 102. For example, the AP 102 may disable (such as turn off or deactivate) a packet detection procedure 810 at the AP 102. The AP 102 may disable the packet detection procedure 810 in association with actively polling andAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO40scheduling uplink traffic from the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b. To disable the packet detection procedure 810, the AP 102 may disable a Wi-Fi packet detect procedure or one or more components associated with Wi-Fi packet detect.

[0101] In some implementations, disabling of the packet detection procedure 810 may include disabling a preamble correlation (such as a preamble autocorrelation) at the AP 102. For example, the AP 102 may detect a Wi-Fi packet (such as a PPDU) in accordance with correlating one or more signals or fields within a preamble portion of the Wi-Fi packet to a known sequence and determining whether a unique preamble sequence of the Wi-Fi packet matches the known sequence (such that the preamble sequence of the Wi-Fi packet is a recognizable pattern of radio signals that indicates a start of the Wi-Fi packet). Additionally, or alternatively, disabling the packet detection procedure 810 may include a signal strength-based mechanism according to which the AP 102 may determine whether the AP 102 is receiving a Wi-Fi packet.

[0102] In addition to actively polling and scheduling uplink traffic, or as an alternative to actively polling and scheduling uplink traffic, the AP 102, the STA 104-a, and / or the STA 104-b may support a mechanism associated with managing channel contention by the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b (such as preventing the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b from contending for channel access). Such a management of uplink channel contention may include the AP 102 using one or more AP-specific channel access parameters and / or the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b using one or more STA-specific channel access parameters. Additionally, or alternatively, such a management of uplink channel contention may include the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b using one or more packet posting mechanisms. For example, the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b may post one or more packets to an uplink trigger response queue and may refrain from posting one or more packets to an uplink SU queue. In such examples, the STA 104-a and / or the STA 104-b may support a first packet management procedure associated with triggered responses and a second, separate packet management procedure associated with non-triggered responses. In accordance with managing channel contention by STAs 104, the AP 102 may exercise (such as perform or schedule) MU-MIMO in the uplink direction, which may increase a spectral efficiency. Further, by having full control of scheduling uplink communication fromAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO41the STAs 104 to the AP 102, the AP 102 may support flexible (such as dynamic) quality of service (QoS) and / or quality of experience (QoE).

[0103] Figure 9 shows an example beamforming scheme 900 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The beamforming scheme 900 illustrates communication between an AP 102 and multiple STAs 104 according to which the AP 102 may use different configurations for directional communication (such as different beams) within a single frame exchange sequence. For example, in accordance with the beamforming scheme 900, the AP 102 may split antenna beam selection signaling into at least two parts including a first part for which the AP 102 transmits signaling using a relatively wider beamwidth and a second part for which the AP 102 transmits signaling using a relatively narrower beamwidth. The AP 102 may perform the beamforming scheme 900 in association with operating within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are at least approximately stationary for at least one discrete time interval, such as the wireless communication network 500 and / or the wireless communication network 600.

[0104] For example, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication associated with a wide beam 902 that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a sector including the multiple STAs 104. Additionally, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication associated with a narrow beam 904-a that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a first fixed location associated with a first STA 104. Additionally, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication associated with a narrow beam 904-b that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a second fixed location associated with a second STA 104. The narrow beam 904-a may be associated with a first beam ID that corresponds to a first STA group (which may include the first STA 104) and the narrow beam 904-b may be associated with a second beam ID that corresponds to a second STA group (which may include the second STA 104).

[0105] In accordance with the beamforming scheme 900, the AP 102 may transmit, to the first STA 104, a first PPDU 906 including a preamble portion 908 and a data portion 910. In some implementations, the AP 102 may transmit the preamble portion 908 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associatedAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO42with the wide beam 902 and may transmit the data portion 910 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-a. In other words, the AP 102 may select, for a start of the PPDU 906 to an end of the preamble portion 908, a relatively wider beam to broadcast a relatively lower-rate preamble and the AP 102 may select, for a start of the data portion 910 to an end of the PPDU 906, a relatively narrower beam to transmit relatively higher-rate data to the first STA 104 (the intended receiving STA 104). In some implementations, the AP 102 may switch from using the wide beam 902 to using the narrow beam 904-a within a guard interval (GI) of an initial symbol (such as an initial OFDM symbol) of the data portion 910 of the PPDU 906. The AP 102 may switch from using the wide beam 902 to using the narrow beam 904-a in accordance with switching one or more antenna modules of the AP 102 (which the AP 102 may switch in a sub-microsecond domain, such that the AP 102 may switch beams within a GI of a data symbol).

[0106] The AP 102 may include, within the preamble portion 908, information indicative of a duration of the PPDU 906 or a duration of a COT (such as a TXOP) of the AP 102. In association with including such information within the preamble portion 908 and transmitting the preamble portion 908 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 902, the AP 102 may inform a relatively greater quantity of STAs 104 of the duration of the PPDU 906 or the duration of the COT and / or TXOP of the AP 102, which may reduce or eliminate uplink contention for the indicated duration. For example, by broadcasting the preamble portion 908 using the wide beam 902, a set of STAs 104 (such as all STAs 104 within a sector) may set respective NAVs for channel access.

[0107] The AP 102 may transmit an MU BA request (BAR) 912 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-a. The MU BAR 912 may request (such as solicit) feedback associated with the PPDU 906. In association with transmitting the MU BAR 912, the AP 102 may receive an ACK 914 associated with the PPDU 906. The AP 102 may receive the ACK 914 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-a.

[0108] Additionally, the AP 102 may transmit, to the second STA 104, a second PPDU 916 including a preamble portion 918 and a data portion 920. The AP 102 mayAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO43transmit the preamble portion 918 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 902 and may transmit the data portion 920 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-b. In other words, the AP 102 may select, for a start of the PPDU 916 to an end of the preamble portion 918, a relatively wider beam to broadcast a low-rate preamble and the AP 102 may select, for a start of the data portion 920 to an end of the PPDU 916, a relatively narrower beam to transmit high-rate data to the second STA 104 (the intended receiving STA 104). In some implementations, the AP 102 may switch from using the wide beam 902 to using the narrow beam 904-b within a GI of an initial symbol (such as an initial OFDM symbol) of the data portion 920 of the PPDU 916. The AP 102 may switch from using the wide beam 902 to using the narrow beam 904-b in accordance with switching one or more antenna modules of the AP 102 (which the AP 102 may switch in a submicrosecond domain, such that the AP 102 may switch beams within a GI of a data symbol).

[0109] The AP 102 may include, within the preamble portion 918, information indicative of a duration of the PPDU 916 or a duration of a COT (such as a TXOP) of the AP 102. In association with including such information within the preamble portion 918 and transmitting the preamble portion 918 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 902, the AP 102 may inform a relatively greater quantity of STAs 104 of the duration of the PPDU 916 or the duration of the COT and / or TXOP of the AP 102, which may reduce or eliminate uplink contention for the indicated duration. For example, by broadcasting the preamble portion 918 using the wide beam 902, a set of STAs 104 (such as all STAs 104) may set respective NAVs for channel access.

[0110] The AP 102 may transmit an MU BAR 922 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-b. The MU BAR 922 may request (such as solicit) feedback associated with the PPDU 916. In association with transmitting the MU BAR 922, the AP 102 may receive an ACK 924 associated with the PPDU 916. The AP 102 may receive the ACK 924 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 904-b. Additionally, or alternatively, STAs 104 within some wirelessAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO44communication networks disclosed herein may disable channel sensing that depends on a signal strength measurement, such as a received signal strength indicator (RS SI) measurement, to reduce or prevent un-intentional contention from the STAs 104.

[0111] Figure 10 shows an example beamforming scheme 1000 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The beamforming scheme 1000 illustrates communication between an AP 102 and multiple STAs 104 according to which the AP 102 may use different configurations for directional communication (such as different beams) within a single frame exchange sequence. For example, in accordance with the beamforming scheme 1000, the AP 102 may split antenna beam selection signaling into at least two parts including a first part for which the AP 102 transmits signaling using a relatively wider beamwidth and a second part for which the AP 102 transmits signaling using a relatively narrower beamwidth. The AP 102 may perform the beamforming scheme 1000 in association with operating within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are at least approximately stationary for at least one discrete time interval, such as the wireless communication network 500 and / or the wireless communication network 600.

[0112] For example, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication associated with a wide beam 1002 that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a sector including the multiple STAs 104. Additionally, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication associated with a narrow beam 1004-a that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a first fixed location associated with a first STA 104. Additionally, the AP 102 may communicate in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication associated with a narrow beam 1004-b that corresponds to (such as directs communication toward) a second fixed location associated with a second STA 104. The narrow beam 1004-a may be associated with a first beam ID that corresponds to a first STA group (which may include the first STA 104) and the narrow beam 1004-b may be associated with a second beam ID that corresponds to a second STA group (which may include the second STA 104). In some aspects, a beam ID may be a function of a single STA 104 or a combination of STAs 104 that are triggered and / or grouped in a particular transmission (by, for example, a trigger frame).Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO45

[0113] In accordance with the beamforming scheme 1000, the AP 102 may transmit, to the first STA 104, a trigger frame 1006 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 1002. The trigger frame 1006 may be a basic trigger frame that reserves a medium (such as the channel) for a complete frame exchange sequence (which may use, in part, a relatively narrower beam). For example, the trigger frame 1006 may solicit an uplink response from at least the first STA 104 and, in association with transmitting the trigger frame 1006, the AP 102 may receive a TB PPDU 1008 from the first STA 104. The AP 102 may receive the TB PPDU 1008 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-a. Likewise, the first STA 104 may transmit the TB PPDU 1008 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-a. The AP 102 may transmit an ACK 1010 in association with receiving the TB PPDU 1008, with the ACK 1010 including feedback information associated with the TB PPDU 1008. The AP 102 may transmit the ACK 1010 in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-a.

[0114] Additionally, the AP 102 may transmit, to the second STA 104, a trigger frame 1012 in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 1002. The trigger frame 1012 may be a basic trigger frame that reserves a medium (such as the channel) for a complete frame exchange sequence (which may use, in part, a relatively narrower beam). For example, the trigger frame 1012 may solicit an uplink response from at least the second STA 104 and, in association with transmitting the trigger frame 1012, the AP 102 may receive a TB PPDU 1014 from the second STA 104. The AP 102 may receive the TB PPDU 1014 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-b. Likewise, the second STA 104 may transmit the TB PPDU 1014 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-b. The AP 102 may transmit an ACK 1016 in association with receiving the TB PPDU 1014, with the ACK 1016 including feedback information associated with the TB PPDU 1014. The AP 102 may transmit the ACK 1016 in accordance with the third configuration for directional communication associated with the narrow beam 1004-b.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO46

[0115] The trigger frame 1006 and the trigger frame 1012, each of which the AP 102 may transmit in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 1002, may each include information indicative of a duration of at least a respective solicited and / or initiated frame exchange. In association with the transmission of the trigger frame 1006 and the trigger frame 1012 being in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication associated with the wide beam 1002, the AP 102 may inform a relatively greater quantity of STAs 104 of the durations of the solicited and / or initiated frame exchanges, which may reduce (or eliminate) uplink channel contention by other STAs 104 within the durations of the solicited and / or initiated frame exchanges. For example, a third STA 104 may be within a same larger sector as the first STA 104 and the second STA 104 and able to detect signaling transmitted using the wide beam 1002, but unable to detect signaling transmitted using the narrow beam 1004-a or the narrow beam 1004-b. With the trigger frame 1006 and the trigger frame 1012 transmitted using the wide beam 1002, the third STA 104 may set a NAV in accordance with the durations indicated by the trigger frame 1006 and the trigger frame 1012 and likewise not attempt to acquire the channel for the indicated durations, even while not detecting other signaling within the frame exchanges.

[0116] Figure 11 shows an example communication sequence 1100 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The communication sequence 1100 illustrates communication between an AP 102 and a STA 104 according to which the STA 104 may exclude a preamble portion from a triggered uplink response. The STA 104 may perform support such a preamble exclusion for triggered uplink responses in accordance with operating within an infrastructure network or a mobile network in which the AP 102 and the STAs 104 are at least approximately stationary for at least one discrete time interval, such as the wireless communication network 500 or the wireless communication network 600.

[0117] For example, in accordance with the communication sequence 1100, the AP 102 may transmit a trigger frame 1102. The AP 102 may use the trigger frame 1102 to solicit an uplink response from at least the STA 104 and may include, within the trigger frame 1102, information associated with the uplink response. For example, the trigger frame 1102 may include information that the STA 104 may, in some networks, includeAtorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO47within a preamble of the triggered uplink response. In some implementations, the STA 104 may transmit a TB PPDU 1104 in association with receiving the trigger frame 1102. The TB PPDU 1104 may be an uplink response to the trigger frame 1102.

[0118] In accordance with the AP 102 and the STA 104 operating in an infrastructure network or any other network in which devices are located at a fixed or static location for at least one discrete time interval, the STA 104 may exclude, from the TB PPDU 1104, a preamble portion 1106 and may include, within the TB PPDU, a data portion 1108. A device being located at a fixed or static location for at least one discrete time interval may be understood as being associated with a set of approximately static network parameters for at least the one discrete time interval.

[0119] Such network parameters may include a beam ID, a location, and / or a set of one or more channel conditions including, for example, a channel quality and / or a signal strength, among other examples. A STA 104 that is associated with a beam ID that is static for a discrete time interval may be understood as the STA 104 not switching from one beam ID to another beam ID within the discrete time interval. A STA 104 that is associated with a location that is static for a discrete time interval may be understood as the STA 104 not moving outside of a threshold range from the location within the discrete time interval (such that, for example, an AP 102 may assume that the STA 104 is at least approximately stationary for at least the discrete time interval). A STA 104 that is associated with a set of channel conditions that is static for a discrete time interval may be understood as the STA 104 being receivable in accordance with a set of transmission parameters (such as beam ID and / or transmit power) that is static within the discrete time interval (such that an AP 102 may assume that the channel conditions experienced by the STA 104 are approximately static for at least the discrete time interval).

[0120] The TB PPDU 1104 may only include the data portion 1108 and may be absent of any fields or sequences transmitted associated with the preamble portion 1106. In association with excluding the preamble portion 1106 from the TB PPDU 1104, the STA 104 may reduce signaling overhead (which may be redundant, as the information within the preamble portion 1106 may be the same as some of the information within the trigger frame 1102), which may increase data rates and support greater network capacity, among other benefits.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO48

[0121] Figure 12 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device 1200 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1200 is configured to perform the processes 1400, 1500, 1600, and 1700 described with reference to Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively. The wireless communication device 1200 may include one or more chips, SoCs, chipsets, packages, components or devices that individually or collectively constitute or include a processing system. The processing system may interface with other components of the wireless communication device 1200, and may generally process information (such as inputs or signals) received from such other components and output information (such as outputs or signals) to such other components. In some aspects, an example chip may include a processing system, a first interface to output or transmit information and a second interface to receive or obtain information. For example, the first interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a transmission component, such that the wireless communication device 1200 may transmit the information output from the chip. In such an example, the second interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a reception component, such that the wireless communication device 1200 may receive information that is passed to the processing system. In some such examples, the first interface also may obtain information, such as from the transmission component, and the second interface also may output information, such as to the reception component.

[0122] The processing system of the wireless communication device 1200 includes processor (or “processing”) circuitry in the form of one or multiple processors, microprocessors, processing units (such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), neural processing units (NPUs) (also referred to as neural network processors or deep learning processors (DLPs)), or digital signal processors (DSPs)), processing blocks, application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLDs) (such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “processors” or collectively as “the processor” or “the processor circuitry”). One or more of the processors may be individually or collectively configurable or configured to perform various functions or operations described herein.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO49

[0123] The processing system may further include memory circuitry in the form of one or more memory devices, memory blocks, memory elements or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry, each of which may include tangible storage media such as random-access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), or combinations thereof (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “memories” or collectively as “the memory” or “the memory circuitry”). One or more of the memories may be coupled with one or more of the processors and may individually or collectively store processor-executable code that, when executed by one or more of the processors, may configure one or more of the processors to perform various functions or operations described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, one or more of the processors may be preconfigured to perform various functions or operations described herein without requiring configuration by software. The processing system may further include or be coupled with one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (such as IEEE compliant) modem or a cellular (such as 3GPP 4G LTE, 5G or 6G compliant) modem). In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the modems. The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.

[0124] In some examples, the wireless communication device 1200 can be configurable or configured for use in an AP, such as the AP 102 described with reference to Figure 1. In some other examples, the wireless communication device 1200 can be an AP that includes such a processing system and other components including multiple antennas. The wireless communication device 1200 is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications in the form of, for example, wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device 1200 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication device 1200 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive signals and communications conforming to one or more 3GPP specifications includingAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO50those for 5G NR or 6G. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1200 also includes or can be coupled with one or more application processors which may be further coupled with one or more other memories. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1200 further includes at least one external network interface coupled with the processing system that enables communication with a core network or backhaul network that enables the wireless communication device 1200 to gain access to external networks including the Internet.

[0125] The wireless communication device 1200 includes a PPDU transmission component 1225, an uplink trigger component 1230, a PPDU reception component 1235, a feedback component 1240, a buffer status component 1245, a packet detection component 1250, and a directional communication component 1255. Portions of one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1225, the uplink trigger component 1230, the PPDU reception component 1235, the feedback component 1240, the buffer status component 1245, the packet detection component 1250, and the directional communication component 1255 may be implemented at least in part in hardware or firmware. For example, one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1225, the uplink trigger component 1230, the PPDU reception component 1235, the feedback component 1240, the buffer status component 1245, the packet detection component 1250, and the directional communication component 1255 may be implemented at least in part by at least a processor or a modem. In some examples, portions of one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1225, the uplink trigger component 1230, the PPDU reception component 1235, the feedback component 1240, the buffer status component 1245, the packet detection component 1250, and the directional communication component 1255 may be implemented at least in part by a processor and software in the form of processor-executable code stored in memory.

[0126] The wireless communication device 1200 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication deviceAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO51and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0127] In some examples, transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0128] In some examples, the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network. In some examples, the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the second wireless communication device is associated with a beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0129] In some examples, the feedback component 1240 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, a request for feedback associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the feedback component 1240 is configurable or configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the request for the feedback associated with the PPDU, an ACK associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

[0130] In some examples, the first portion of the PPDU includes a preamble of the PPDU. In some examples, the second portion of the PPDU includes a data portion of the PPDU. In some examples, the directional communication component 1255 is configurable or configured to perform a switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within a guard interval of an initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU. InAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO52some examples, transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication is in association with performing the switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within the guard interval of the initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU.

[0131] In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a third wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication network, a first portion of a second PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the third wireless communication device, a second portion of the second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0132] In some examples, the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the second wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device.

[0133] In some examples, the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the second wireless communication device. In some examples, the third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the third wireless communication device. In some examples, the first wireless communication device is an AP and the second and third wireless communication devices are STAs. In some examples, the AP is configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters. In some examples, transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication may be in association with (such as dependent on) the AP being configured with the one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with the greater channel access priority than the one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO53

[0134] Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device 1200 may support wireless communication in accordance with some other examples as disclosed herein. The uplink trigger component 1230 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a STA associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication. The PPDU reception component 1235 is configurable or configured to receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0135] In some examples, transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and receiving the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0136] In some examples, the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the STA are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network. In some examples, the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the STA is associated with a beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0137] In some examples, the feedback component 1240 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the STA and in association with receiving the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication, an ACK associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

[0138] In some examples, the uplink trigger component 1230 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a second STA associated with the wireless communication network operated by the AP, a second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the PPDU reception component 1235 is configurable or configured to receive, from the second STA and inAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO54association with transmitting the second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beam width.

[0139] In some examples, the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the STA and the second STA. In some examples, the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the STA. In some examples, the third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the second STA. In some examples, the PPDU is a TB PPDU solicited by the trigger frame. In some examples, the AP is configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters. In some examples, transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and receiving the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication may be in association with (such as dependent on) the AP being configured with the one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with the greater channel access priority than the one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.

[0140] Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device 1200 may support wireless communication in accordance with some other examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to set an AIFSN value to be equal to zero and to set both a lower limit contention window size and an upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1225 is configurable or configured to transmit one or more downlink signals to one or more STAs associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP. In some examples, the PPDU reception component 1235 is configurable or configured to receive one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both theAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO55lower limit contention window size and the upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot.

[0141] In some examples, the buffer status component 1245 is configurable or configured to transmit one or more BSRP trigger frames to solicit a respective buffer status report from each STA of the one or more STAs associated with the wireless communication network managed by the AP. In some examples, the buffer status component 1245 is configurable or configured to receive a set of multiple buffer status reports in association with transmitting the one or more BSRP trigger frames, each buffer status report of the set of multiple buffer status reports including buffer status information associated with a respective STA of the one or more STAs. In some examples, transmitting the one or more downlink signals is in association with receiving the set of multiple buffer status reports.

[0142] In some examples, the one or more downlink signals include one or more frames that schedule uplink data from the one or more STAs. In some examples, the one or more uplink signals include one or more PPDUs scheduled by the one or more frames.

[0143] In some examples, the packet detection component 1250 is configurable or configured to disable a packet detection procedure at the AP in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit contention window size and the upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot.

[0144] In some examples, the one or more downlink signals are associated with a first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the one or more uplink signals are associated with a second configuration for directional communication.

[0145] In some examples, the first configuration for directional communication is associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication is associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth. In some examples, the wireless communication network is associated with a mmW frequency band. In some examples, the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network. In some examples,Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO56the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0146] Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device 1200 may support wireless communication in accordance with some other examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, the uplink trigger component 1230 is configurable or configured to transmit a trigger frame to a STA associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval. In some examples, the PPDU reception component 1235 is configurable or configured to receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

[0147] In some examples, the PPDU consists of a data portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval and in accordance with the AP being configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters. In some examples, the wireless communication network is associated with a mmW frequency band. In some examples, the PPDU is a TB PPDU solicited by the trigger frame.

[0148] Figure 13 shows a block diagram of an example wireless communication device 1300 that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1300 is configured to perform the process 1400 described with reference to Figure 14. The wireless communication device 1300 may include one or more chips, SoCs, chipsets, packages, components or devices that individually or collectively constitute or include a processing system. The processing system may interface with other components of theAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO57wireless communication device 1300, and may generally process information (such as inputs or signals) received from such other components and output information (such as outputs or signals) to such other components. In some aspects, an example chip may include a processing system, a first interface to output or transmit information and a second interface to receive or obtain information. For example, the first interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a transmission component, such that the wireless communication device 1300 may transmit the information output from the chip. In such an example, the second interface may refer to an interface between the processing system of the chip and a reception component, such that the wireless communication device 1300 may receive information that is passed to the processing system. In some such examples, the first interface also may obtain information, such as from the transmission component, and the second interface also may output information, such as to the reception component.

[0149] The processing system of the wireless communication device 1300 includes processor (or “processing”) circuitry in the form of one or multiple processors, microprocessors, processing units (such as CPUs, GPUs, NPUs (also referred to as neural network processors or DLPs), or DSPs), processing blocks, ASIC, PLDs (such as FPGAs), or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “processors” or collectively as “the processor” or “the processor circuitry”). One or more of the processors may be individually or collectively configurable or configured to perform various functions or operations described herein.

[0150] The processing system may further include memory circuitry in the form of one or more memory devices, memory blocks, memory elements or other discrete gate or transistor logic or circuitry, each of which may include tangible storage media such as RAM or ROM, or combinations thereof (all of which may be generally referred to herein individually as “memories” or collectively as “the memory” or “the memory circuitry”). One or more of the memories may be coupled with one or more of the processors and may individually or collectively store processor-executable code that, when executed by one or more of the processors, may configure one or more of the processors to perform various functions or operations described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, one or more of the processors may be preconfigured toAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO58perform various functions or operations described herein without requiring configuration by software. The processing system may further include or be coupled with one or more modems (such as a Wi-Fi (such as IEEE compliant) modem or a cellular (such as 3GPP 4G LTE, 5G or 6G compliant) modem). In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the modems. The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.

[0151] In some examples, the wireless communication device 1300 can be configurable or configured for use in a STA, such as the STA 104 described with reference to Figure 1. In some other examples, the wireless communication device 1300 can be a STA that includes such a processing system and other components including multiple antennas. The wireless communication device 1300 is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communications in the form of, for example, wireless packets. For example, the wireless communication device 1300 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. In some other examples, the wireless communication device 1300 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive signals and communications conforming to one or more 3GPP specifications including those for 5G NR or 6G. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1300 also includes or can be coupled with one or more application processors which may be further coupled with one or more other memories. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1300 further includes a user interface (UI) (such as a touchscreen or keypad) and a display, which may be integrated with the UI to form a touchscreen display that is coupled with the processing system. In some examples, the wireless communication device 1300 may further include one or more sensors such as, for example, one or more inertial sensors, accelerometers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or altitude sensors, that are coupled with the processing system.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO59

[0152] The wireless communication device 1300 includes a PPDU transmission component 1325, a PPDU reception component 1330, an uplink trigger component 1335, a feedback component 1340, and a directional communication component 1345. Portions of one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1325, the PPDU reception component 1330, the uplink trigger component 1335, the feedback component 1340, and the directional communication component 1345 may be implemented at least in part in hardware or firmware. For example, one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1325, the PPDU reception component 1330, the uplink trigger component 1335, the feedback component 1340, and the directional communication component 1345 may be implemented at least in part by at least a processor or a modem. In some examples, portions of one or more of the PPDU transmission component 1325, the PPDU reception component 1330, the uplink trigger component 1335, the feedback component 1340, and the directional communication component 1345 may be implemented at least in part by a processor and software in the form of processorexecutable code stored in memory.

[0153] The wireless communication device 1300 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The PPDU transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0154] In some examples, transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directionalAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO60communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0155] In some examples, the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network. In some examples, the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the second wireless communication device is associated with a beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0156] In some examples, the feedback component 1340 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, a request for feedback associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the feedback component 1340 is configurable or configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the request for the feedback associated with the PPDU, an ACK associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

[0157] In some examples, the first portion of the PPDU includes a preamble of the PPDU. In some examples, the second portion of the PPDU includes a data portion of the PPDU. In some examples, the directional communication component 1345 is configurable or configured to perform a switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within a guard interval of an initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU. In some examples, transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication is in association with performing the switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within the guard interval of the initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU.

[0158] In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit, to a third wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication network, a first portion of a second PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication. In some examples, the PPDUAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO61transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the third wireless communication device, a second portion of the second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0159] In some examples, the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the second wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device. In some examples, the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the second wireless communication device. In some examples, the third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the third wireless communication device.

[0160] In some examples, the second wireless communication device and / or the third wireless communication device is a STA or an AP. In some examples, the AP is configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters. In some examples, transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication may be in association with (such as dependent on) the AP being configured with the one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with the greater channel access priority than the one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.

[0161] Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device 1300 may support wireless communication in accordance with some other examples as disclosed herein. The PPDU reception component 1330 is configurable or configured to receive one or more downlink signals from an AP. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit one or more uplink signals to the AP in association with receiving the one or more downlink signals and in association with an AIFSN value being equal to zero at the AP and both a lower limit contention window size and an upper limit contention window size being equal to one slot at the AP.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO62

[0162] Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless communication device 1300 may support wireless communication in accordance with some other examples as disclosed herein. The uplink trigger component 1335 is configurable or configured to receive a trigger frame from an AP associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval. In some examples, the PPDU transmission component 1325 is configurable or configured to transmit, to the AP and in association with receiving the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

[0163] Figure 14 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1400 performable by or at a first wireless communication device that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The operations of the process 1400 may be implemented by a first wireless communication device or its components as described herein. For example, the process 1400 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 1200 described with reference to Figure 12, operating as or within a wireless AP or a wireless STA. In some examples, the process 1400 may be performed by a wireless AP or a wireless STA, such as one of the APs 102 or the STAs 104 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0164] In some examples, in 1405, the first wireless communication device may transmit, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication. The operations of 1405 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1405 may be performed by a PPDU transmission component 1225 or a PPDU transmission component 1325 as described with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

[0165] In some examples, in 1410, the first wireless communication device may transmit, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO63configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth. The operations of 1410 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1410 may be performed by a PPDU transmission component 1225 or a PPDU transmission component 1325 as described with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

[0166] Figure 15 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1500 performable by or at an AP that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The operations of the process 1500 may be implemented by an AP or its components as described herein. For example, the process 1500 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 1200 described with reference to Figure 12, operating as or within a wireless AP. In some examples, the process 1500 may be performed by a wireless AP, such as one of the APs 102 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0167] In some examples, in 1505, the AP may transmit, to a STA associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication. The operations of 1505 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed by an uplink trigger component 1230 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0168] In some examples, in 1510, the AP may receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth. The operations of 1510 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1510 may be performed by a PPDU reception component 1235 as described with reference to Figure 12.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO64

[0169] Figure 16 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1600 performable by or at an AP that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The operations of the process 1600 may be implemented by an AP or its components as described herein. For example, the process 1600 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 1200 described with reference to Figure 12, operating as or within a wireless AP. In some examples, the process 1600 may be performed by a wireless AP, such as one of the APs 102 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0170] In some examples, in 1605, the AP may set an AIFSN value to be equal to zero and set both a lower limit CW size and an upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot. The operations of 1605 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1605 may be performed by a PPDU transmission component 1225 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0171] In some examples, in 1610, the AP may transmit one or more downlink signals to one or more STAs associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP. The operations of 1610 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1610 may be performed by a PPDU transmission component 1225 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0172] In some examples, in 1615, the AP may receive one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot. The operations of 1615 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1615 may be performed by a PPDU reception component 1235 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0173] Figure 17 shows a flowchart illustrating an example process 1700 performable by or at an AP that supports beamforming for Wi-Fi communication on high frequency networks. The operations of the process 1700 may be implemented byAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO65an AP or its components as described herein. For example, the process 1700 may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 1200 described with reference to Figure 12, operating as or within a wireless AP. In some examples, the process 1700 may be performed by a wireless AP, such as one of the APs 102 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0174] In some examples, in 1705, the AP may transmit a trigger frame to a STA associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval. The operations of 1705 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1705 may be performed by an uplink trigger component 1230 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0175] In some examples, in 1710, the AP may receive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval. The operations of 1710 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1710 may be performed by a PPDU reception component 1235 as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0176] Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0177] Clause 1 : A method for wireless communication at a first wireless communication device, including: transmitting, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a PPDU in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication; and transmitting, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configurationAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO66for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0178] Clause 2: The method of clause 1, wherein transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0179] Clause 3 : The method of clause 2, wherein the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; or the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the second wireless communication device is associated with a beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0180] Clause 4: The method of any of clauses 1-3, further including: transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, a request for feedback associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication; and receiving, from the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the request for the feedback associated with the PPDU, an ACK associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

[0181] Clause 5: The method of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the first portion of the PPDU includes a preamble of the PPDU; and the second portion of the PPDU includes a data portion of the PPDU.

[0182] Clause 6: The method of clause 5, further including: performing a switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within a guard interval of an initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU, wherein transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication is in association with performing the switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within the guard interval of the initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO67

[0183] Clause 7: The method of any of clauses 1-6, further including: transmitting, to a third wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication network, a first portion of a second PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication; and transmitting, to the third wireless communication device, a second portion of the second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0184] Clause 8: The method of clause 7, wherein the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the second wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device.

[0185] Clause 9: The method of any of clauses 7-8, wherein the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the second wireless communication device, and the third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the third wireless communication device.

[0186] Clause 10: The method of any of clauses 1-9, wherein the first wireless communication device is a STA or an AP, and the AP is configured with one or more AP-side specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-side specific channel access parameters.

[0187] Clause 11 : A method for wireless communication at an AP, including: transmitting, to a STA associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication; and receiving, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0188] Clause 12: The method of clause 11, wherein transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and receivingAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO68the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0189] Clause 13: The method of clause 12, wherein the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the STA are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; or the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the STA is associated with a beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0190] Clause 14: The method of any of clauses 11-13, further including: transmitting, to the STA and in association with receiving the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication, an ACK associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

[0191] Clause 15: The method of any of clauses 11-14, further including: transmitting, to a second STA associated with the wireless communication network managed by the AP, a second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication; and receiving, from the second STA and in association with transmitting the second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0192] Clause 16: The method of clause 15, wherein the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the STA and the second STA.

[0193] Clause 17: The method of any of clauses 15-16, wherein the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the STA, and the third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the second STA.

[0194] Clause 18: The method of any of clauses 11-17, wherein the PPDU is a TB PPDU solicited by the trigger frame, and the AP is configured with one or more AP-sideAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO69specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-side specific channel access parameters.

[0195] Clause 19: A method for wireless communication at an AP, including: setting an AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both a lower limit CW size and an upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot; transmitting one or more downlink signals to one or more STAs associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP; and receiving one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot.

[0196] Clause 20: The method of clause 19, further including: transmitting one or more BSRP trigger frames to solicit a respective buffer status report from each STA of the one or more STAs associated with the wireless communication network managed by the AP; and receiving a plurality of buffer status reports in association with transmitting the one or more BSRP trigger frames, each buffer status report of the plurality of buffer status reports including buffer status information associated with a respective STA of the one or more STAs, wherein transmitting the one or more downlink signals is in association with receiving the plurality of buffer status reports.

[0197] Clause 21 : The method of clause 20, wherein the one or more downlink signals include one or more frames that schedule uplink data from the one or more STAs, and the one or more uplink signals include one or more PPDUs scheduled by the one or more frames.

[0198] Clause 22: The method of any of clauses 19-21, further including: disabling a packet detection procedure at the AP in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit CW size and the upper limit CW size to be equal to one slot.

[0199] Clause 23: The method of any of clauses 19-22, wherein the one or more downlink signals are associated with a first configuration for directional communication, and the one or more uplink signals are associated with a second configuration for directional communication.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO70

[0200] Clause 24: The method of clause 23, wherein the first configuration for directional communication is associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication is associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

[0201] Clause 25: The method of any of clauses 19-24, wherein the wireless communication network is associated with a mmW frequency band.

[0202] Clause 26: The method of clause 25, wherein the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; or the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

[0203] Clause 27: A method for wireless communication at an AP, including: transmitting a trigger frame to a STA associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam ID that is static for at least one discrete time interval; and receiving, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a PPDU that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

[0204] Clause 28: The method of clause 27, wherein the PPDU consists of a data portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam ID that is static for the at least one discrete time interval and in accordance with the AP being configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.

[0205] Clause 29: The method of any of clauses 27-28, wherein the wireless communication network is associated with a mmW frequency band.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO71

[0206] Clause 30: The method of any of clauses 27-29, wherein the PPDU is a TB PPDU solicited by the trigger frame.

[0207] Clause 31 : A first wireless communication device, including a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the first wireless communication device to perform a method of any of clauses 1-10.

[0208] Clause 32: A first wireless communication device, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 1-10.

[0209] Clause 33: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 1-10.

[0210] Clause 34: An AP, including a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to perform a method of any of clauses 11-18.

[0211] Clause 35: An AP, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 11-18.

[0212] Clause 36: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 11-18.

[0213] Clause 37: An AP, including a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to perform a method of any of clauses 19-26.

[0214] Clause 38: An AP, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 19-26.

[0215] Clause 39: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 19-26.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO72

[0216] Clause 40: An AP, including a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to perform a method of any of clauses 27-30.

[0217] Clause 41 : An AP, including at least one means for performing a method of any of clauses 27-30.

[0218] Clause 42: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of clauses 27-30.

[0219] As used herein, the term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, estimating, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database, or another data structure), inferring, ascertaining, or measuring, among other possibilities. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data stored in memory) or transmitting (such as transmitting information), among other possibilities. Additionally, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, obtaining, choosing, establishing and other such similar actions.

[0220] As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c. As used herein, “or” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “a or b” may include a only, b only, or a combination of a and b. Furthermore, as used herein, a phrase referring to “a” or “an” element refers to one or more of such elements acting individually or collectively to perform the recited function(s). Additionally, a “set” refers to one or more items, and a “subset” refers to less than a whole set, but non-empty.

[0221] As used herein, “based on” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “based on” may be used interchangeably with “based at least in part on,” “associated with,” “in association with,” or “in accordance with” unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Specifically, unless a phrase refers to “based on only ‘a,’” or the equivalent in context, whatever it isAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO73that is “based on ‘a,’” or “based at least in part on ‘a,’” may be based on “a” alone or based on a combination of “a” and one or more other factors, conditions, or information.

[0222] The various illustrative components, logic, logical blocks, modules, circuits, operations, and algorithm processes described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or combinations of hardware, firmware, or software, including the structures disclosed in this specification and the structural equivalents thereof. The interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software has been described generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware, firmware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0223] Various modifications to the examples described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

[0224] Additionally, various features that are described in this specification in the context of separate examples also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple examples separately or in any suitable subcombination. As such, although features may be described above as acting in particular combinations, and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0225] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may schematically depictAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO74one or more example processes in the form of a flowchart or flow diagram. However, other operations that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.Moreover, the separation of various system components in the examples described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all examples, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)

Claims

Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO75CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A first wireless communication device, comprising:a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the first wireless communication device to:transmit, to a second wireless communication device associated with a wireless communication network, a first portion of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication; andtransmit, to the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second portion of the PPDU in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

2. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein transmission of the first portion of the PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and transmission of the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band.

3. The first wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein:the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; or the wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the second wireless communication device is associated with a beam identifier that is static for at least one discrete time interval.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO764. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to:transmit, to the second wireless communication device, a request for feedback associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication; andreceive, from the second wireless communication device and in association with transmitting the request for the feedback associated with the PPDU, an acknowledgment (ACK) associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

5. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein:the first portion of the PPDU comprises a preamble of the PPDU; and the second portion of the PPDU comprises a data portion of the PPDU.

6. The first wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to:perform a switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within a guard interval of an initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU, wherein transmitting the second portion of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication is in association with performing the switch from the first configuration for directional communication to the second configuration for directional communication within the guard interval of the initial symbol within the data portion of the PPDU.

7. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless communication device to:transmit, to a third wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication network, a first portion of a second PPDU in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication; andAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO77transmit, to the third wireless communication device, a second portion of the second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

8. The first wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the second wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device.

9. The first wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein:the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the second wireless communication device; andthe third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the third wireless communication device.

10. The first wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device is a station (STA) or an access point (AP), and wherein the AP is configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.

11. An access point (AP), comprising:a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to:transmit, to a station (STA) associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP, a trigger frame in accordance with a first configuration for directional communication; andreceive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in accordance with a second configuration for directional communication, the first configuration for directional communication being associated with a first beamwidth and theAttorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO78second configuration for directional communication being associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.

12. The AP of claim 11, wherein transmission of the trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication and reception of the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication are in association with the wireless communication network being associated with a millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band.

13. The AP of claim 12, wherein:the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the STA are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; orthe wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the STA is associated with a beam identifier that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

14. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP to:transmit, to the STA and in association with receiving the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication, an acknowledgment (ACK) associated with the PPDU in accordance with the second configuration for directional communication.

15. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP to:transmit, to a second STA associated with the wireless communication network managed by the AP, a second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication; andreceive, from the second STA and in association with transmitting the second trigger frame in accordance with the first configuration for directional communication, a second PPDU in accordance with a third configuration for directional communication, the third configuration for directional communication being associated with a third beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO7916. The AP of claim 15, wherein the first configuration for directional communication corresponds to a sector inclusive, for at least one discrete time interval, of both the STA and the second STA.

17. The AP of claim 15, wherein:the second configuration for directional communication corresponds to a first location associated with the STA; andthe third configuration for directional communication corresponds to a second location associated with the second STA.

18. The AP of claim 11, wherein the PPDU is a trigger-based (TB) PPDU solicited by the trigger frame, and wherein the AP is configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.

19. An access point (AP), comprising:a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to:set an arbitration inter-frame spacing number (AIFSN) value to be equal to zero and set both a lower limit contention window size and an upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot;transmit one or more downlink signals to one or more stations (STAs) associated with a wireless communication network managed by the AP; and receive one or more uplink signals from at least one STA of the one or more STAs in association with transmitting the one or more downlink signals to the one or more STAs and in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit contention window size and the upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot.

20. The AP of claim 19, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP to:Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO80transmit one or more buffer status report poll (BSRP) trigger frames to solicit a respective buffer status report from each STA of the one or more STAs associated with the wireless communication network managed by the AP; andreceive a plurality of buffer status reports in association with transmitting the one or more BSRP trigger frames, each buffer status report of the plurality of buffer status reports comprising buffer status information associated with a respective STA of the one or more STAs, wherein transmission of the one or more downlink signals is in association with reception of the plurality of buffer status reports.

21. The AP of claim 20, wherein:the one or more downlink signals comprise one or more frames that schedule uplink data from the one or more STAs, andthe one or more uplink signals comprise one or more physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) scheduled by the one or more frames.

22. The AP of claim 19, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the AP to:disable a packet detection procedure at the AP in association with the AP setting the AIFSN value to be equal to zero and setting both the lower limit contention window size and the upper limit contention window size to be equal to one slot.

23. The AP of claim 19, wherein:the one or more downlink signals are associated with a first configuration for directional communication, andthe one or more uplink signals are associated with a second configuration for directional communication.

24. The AP of claim 23, wherein the first configuration for directional communication is associated with a first beamwidth and the second configuration for directional communication is associated with a second beamwidth narrower than the first beamwidth.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO8125. The AP of claim 19, wherein the wireless communication network is associated with a millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band.

26. The AP of claim 25, wherein:the wireless communication network is an infrastructure network in which the AP and the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location within the infrastructure network; orthe wireless communication network is a mobile network in which the one or more STAs are each associated with a respective beam identifier that is static for at least one discrete time interval.

27. An access point (AP), comprising:a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the AP to:transmit a trigger frame to a station (STA) associated with a wireless communication network in which STAs are each associated with a respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with a respective beam identifier that is static for at least one discrete time interval; andreceive, from the STA and in association with transmitting the trigger frame, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) that excludes a preamble portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam identifier that is static for the at least one discrete time interval.

28. The AP of claim 27, wherein the PPDU consists of a data portion in accordance with the STA being associated with the wireless communication network in which the STAs are each associated with the respective fixed location or in which the STAs are each associated with the respective beam identifier that is static for the at least one discrete time interval and in accordance with the AP being configured with one or more AP-specific channel access parameters that are associated with a greater channel access priority than one or more STA-specific channel access parameters.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)Qualcomm Docket No. 2501862WO8229. The AP of claim 27, wherein the wireless communication network is associated with a millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band.

30. The AP of claim 27, wherein the PPDU is a trigger-based (TB) PPDU solicited by the trigger frame.Attorney Docket No. PW838IN.WO (83043.3030)

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