EP3117674A1

EP3117674A1 - Techniques for efficient wireless channel resource utilization

Info

Publication number: EP3117674A1
Application number: EP14885522.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Po-Kai Huang; Robert Stacey
Original assignee: Intel IP Corp
Current assignee: Intel IP Corp
Priority date: 2014-03-14
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2017-01-18
Also published as: TW201536075A; WO2015137959A1; TWI583219B; EP3117674A4

Abstract

Techniques for efficient wireless channel resource utilization are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Description

TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENT WIRELESS CHANNEL RESOURCE UTILIZATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein generally relate to wireless communications between devices in wireless networks.

BACKGROUND

In a wireless communications network, a wireless channel may be subdivided into multiple sub-channels, each comprising a portion of the overall bandwidth of the wireless channel. In the case of a high-efficiency wireless local area network (HE-WLAN), an 80 MHz wireless channel may be implemented that comprises four 20 MHz sub-channels. According to conventional channel utilization techniques, when a message is transmitted over such a wireless channel and requires the bandwidth of only some of the sub-channels, the remaining sub-channels may go unused during transmission of the message. This may result in reduced channel utilization efficiency and increased latency in the wireless network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an operating environment.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a wireless channel.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a first wireless channel resource utilization scheme. FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a second wireless channel resource utilization scheme.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a third wireless channel resource utilization scheme. FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a fourth wireless channel resource utilization scheme.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a fifth wireless channel resource utilization scheme. FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a first apparatus and one embodiment of a first system.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a first logic flow.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a second apparatus and one embodiment of a second system.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a second logic flow.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a third logic flow.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a storage medium.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a third system. FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a fourth system.

FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments may be generally directed to techniques for efficient wireless channel resource utilization. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual subchannel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Various embodiments may comprise one or more elements. An element may comprise any structure arranged to perform certain operations. Each element may be implemented as hardware, software, or any combination thereof, as desired for a given set of design parameters or performance constraints. Although an embodiment may be described with a limited number of elements in a certain topology by way of example, the embodiment may include more or less elements in alternate topologies as desired for a given implementation. It is worthy to note that any reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some

embodiments," and "in various embodiments" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Various embodiments are generally directed to wireless communications systems. Some embodiments are particularly directed to wireless communications performed according to one or more wireless communications standards. For example, various embodiments may involve wireless communications between devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN) according to one or more Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 1 standards ("Wi-Fi standards"), such as the IEEE 802.1 1-2012 Standard, published March 29, 2012, titled "Part 1 1 : Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications". Some embodiments may involve wireless communications performed according to one or more standards developed by the IEEE High-Efficiency WLAN (HEW) Study Group. Various embodiments may additionally or alternatively involve wireless communications performed according to one or more Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) standards. For example, various embodiments may involve wireless communications performed according to the WFA Wi-Fi Direct standard, 2010 Release.

Some embodiments may involve wireless communications performed according to other wireless communications standards, such as 3G and/or 4G wireless standards. Examples of 3G and 4G wireless standards may include without limitation any of the IEEE 802.16m and 802.16p standards, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) standards, and International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMT- ADV) standards, including their revisions, progeny and variants. Other suitable examples may include, without limitation, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technologies, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)/High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technologies, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) or the WiMAX II technologies, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 system technologies (e.g., CDMA2000 lxRTT, CDMA2000 EV-DO, CDMA EV-DV, and so forth), High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN) technologies as defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN), Wireless Broadband (WiBro) technologies, GSM with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system (GSM/GPRS) technologies, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technologies, High Speed Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) Packet Access (HSOPA) technologies, High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) system technologies, 3 GPP Rel. 8- 12 of LTE/System Architecture Evolution (SAE), and so forth. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

For ease of explanation, the following description employs various terms that may often be associated with IEEE 802.1 1 networks, such as "wireless station" and "access point." It is to be understood that the use of these terms is not intended to limit the embodiments to 802.1 1 networks. The described techniques may be utilized in other types of networks in various embodiments, such as networks of the various other types mentioned above and/or networks of types other than those mentioned above.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an operating environment 100 such as may be representative of various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, example operating environment 100 comprises a WLAN 101 in which wireless communications are exchanged among a wireless access point (AP) 102 and wireless stations (STAs) 104, 106, and 108. STAs 104, 106, and 108 may wirelessly communicate with each other via AP 102, according to one or more Wi-Fi standards. In some embodiments, WLAN 101 may comprise a High-Efficiency WLAN (HE- WLAN), and STAs 104, 106, and 108 may wirelessly communicate with each other via AP 102 according to one or more High-Efficiency Wi-Fi standards. STAs 104, 106, and 108 may additionally or alternatively communicate with each other directly, by performing device-to- device (D2D) communications according to one or more Wi-Fi Direct standards. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, STA 104 and STA 106 may exchange D2D communications 1 12. The embodiments are not limited to these examples, and it is to be understood that various embodiments may comprise different types and/or numbers of devices, and/or may involve wireless communications according to other wireless communications standards.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless channel 200 such as may comprise an example of a wireless channel over which wireless communications may be exchanged in some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, wireless channel 200 consists of sub-channels (S-CHs) 202, 204, 206, and 208, each of which comprises a portion of the total bandwidth of channel 200. Each transmission that channel 200 carries may occupy one or more sub-channels within channel 200 for some amount of time. For example, transmission 210 occupies S-CHs 202 and 204 during a time interval 214, and transmission 212 occupies S-CHs 202, 204, 206, and 208 during a time interval 216. In various embodiments, channel 200 may comprise an 80 MHz channel for an HE-WLAN, and S-CHs 202, 204, 206, and 208 may comprise 20 MHz sub-channels.

However, the embodiments are not limited to these example bandwidths. Channel 200 and S- CHs 202, 204, 206, and 208 may comprise larger or smaller bandwidths in some embodiments, and the bandwidths of S-CHs 202, 204, 206, and 208 may not necessarily be equal to each other. Furthermore, various embodiments may involve the use of a wireless channel comprising a lesser or greater number of sub-channels. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 3 illustrates a communications exchange diagram 300 and a wireless channel usage diagram 350 such as may be representative of a conventional wireless channel resource utilization scheme employed in conjunction with communications over the wireless channel 200 of FIG. 2. According to such a conventional scheme, devices may not be permitted to receive transmissions from multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective frequency bands. For example, in a conventional HE-WLAN, an AP may not be permitted to receive packets from multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels. In conventional systems, when multiple devices wish to transmit to a same other device, the channel may be allocated to the first device that requests its use, and the other devices may be forced to defer their requests and/or transmissions until that first device completes its transmission. For example, in a conventional HE-WLAN, a first STA to transmit a request-to- send message (RTS) to an AP may obtain a channel allocation from the AP, while other STAs may detect that the channel has been allocated and defer sending their own RTSs. In the example of FIG. 3, a STA 304 wishes to send a transmission 314 to an AP 302. In order to secure wireless channel resources for the transmission 314, STA 304 first sends an RTS 310 to AP 302 over S-CH 202 during a time interval 320. STAs 306 and 308 monitor S-CH 202 and overhear RTS 310 when STA 304 sends it to AP 302. In response to the RTS 310, AP 302 allocates S-CH 202 for use by STA 304 during a time interval 324, and sends a clear-to-send message (CTS) 312 to STA 304 during a time interval 322. The CTS 312 indicates that S-CH 202 is allocated for use by STA 304 during time interval 324, and based on the CTS 312, STA 304 sends transmission 314 to AP 302 over S-CH 202 during time interval 324. Following the allocation of S-CH 202 to STA 304 for time interval 324, S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 remain unallocated with respect to time interval 324. Hereinafter, the term "residual sub-channel" shall be employed to denote, with respect to any particular time interval, a sub-channel that remains unallocated once at least one other sub-channel has been allocated for use.

In the example of FIG. 3., following the allocation of S-CH 202 to STA 304 for time interval 324, S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 constitute residual sub-channels with respect to time interval 324. STAs 306 and 308 wish to send respective transmissions 316 and 318 to AP 302, and the bandwidth required for these transmissions is the same as that comprised by the residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208. However, STAs 306 and 308 cannot use residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 to send transmissions 316 and 318 to AP 302 during time interval 324, because AP 302 is not permitted to receive packets from multiple STAs over different respective S-CHs at the same time. As such, having detected RTS 310, STAs defer their own channel resource requests until subsequent points in time. STAs 306 and 308 are forced to wait until subsequent time intervals 326 and 328 to perform their respective transmissions, which results in inefficient channel utilization during each of time intervals 324, 326, and 328.

FIG. 4 illustrates a communications exchange diagram 400 and a wireless channel usage diagram 450 such as may be representative of improved wireless channel resource utilization techniques employed in conjunction with communications over the wireless channel 200 of FIG. 2 in some embodiments. More particularly, communications exchange diagram 400 and wireless channel usage diagram 450 may be representative of the implementation of a UL multi-user frequency division multiplexing (MU-FDM) scheme for wireless channel 200. According to such a UL MU-FDM scheme, devices may be permitted to receive transmissions from multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective frequency bands. For example, if a UL MU-FDM scheme is implemented in an HE-WLAN, an AP may be permitted to receive packets from multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels. In FIG. 4, as in FIG. 3, STAs 304, 306, and 308 wish to send respective transmissions 314, 316, and 318 to AP 302, and STA 304 sends RTS 310 to AP 302 during time interval 320. AP 302 allocates S-CH 202 for use by STA 304 during time interval 324, leaving residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 unallocated with respect to time interval 324. Also as in FIG. 3, STAs 306 and 308 monitor S-CH 202, overhear RTS 310, and defer transmission of their own RTSs based on having detected RTS 310. However, in FIG. 4, a UL MU-FDM scheme is implemented that enables AP 302 to receive packets from multiple STAs at the same time using different respective S-CHs. As such, after allocating S-CH 202 for use by STA 304 during time interval 324, AP 302 sends over each residual sub-channel a respective message authorizing a particular STA to use that sub-channel during time interval 324. More particularly, AP 302 sends a CTS 404 over S-CH 204 to authorize STA 306 to use S-CH 204 during time interval 324, sends a CTS 406 over S-CH 206 to authorize STA 308 to use S-CH 206 during time interval 324, and sends a CTS 408 over S-CH 208 to authorize STA 308 to use S-CH 208 during time interval 324. It is worthy of note that in various embodiments, rather than sending a separate CTS for each residual sub-channel, AP 302 may instead construct a single CTS 402 that includes information authorizing use of the residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 by STAs 306 and 308 during the time interval 324. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In the example UL MU-FDM implementation of FIG. 4, STAs 306 and 308 both obtain channel resource allocations without requesting them. More particularly, with respect to time interval 324, STA 306 is allocated use of S-CH 204, and STA 308 is allocated use of S-CHs 206 and 208. STAs 306 and 308 are made aware of these allocations via CTSs 404, 406, and 408, which they receive despite not having sent RTSs. Hereinafter, the term "unsolicited resource allocation notification" is employed to denote a message that notifies a device that channel resources have been allocated for its use when the allocation of those resources has not been performed in response to a request from the device. In the example of FIG. 4, CTSs 404, 406, and 408 may comprise unsolicited resource allocation notifications because they notify STAs 306 and 308 that they have been allocated resources during time interval 324 despite not having sent RTSs. In some cases, any particular unsolicited resource allocation notification may comprise a field or other portion within a message, rather than comprising an entire message in and of itself. For example, as noted above, in some embodiments, AP 302 may construct a single CTS 402 that includes information authorizing use of the residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208 by STAs 306 and 308 during the time interval 324. In such a case, the CTS 402 may contain multiple fields that each contain a distinct unsolicited resource allocation notification corresponding to a respective one of the residual S-CHs 204, 206, and 208. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

It is worthy of note that in the example UL MU-FDM implementation of FIG. 4, AP 302 allocates channel resources for STAs 306 and 308 without knowledge of whether STAs 306 and 308 actually have data to transmit. Because it happens to be the case that STAs 306 and 308 both have data to transmit, they both use the allocated channel resources to perform those transmissions during time interval 324. However, it is to be appreciated that in some cases, a STA or other device that receives an unsolicited resource allocation notification may not have data to transmit, and may not utilize the channel resources that have been allocated for it. It is further worthy of note that although it is the AP 302 that receives packets from multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels in FIG. 4, a STA may additionally or alternatively possess this capability in various embodiments. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 5 illustrates a communications exchange diagram 500 and a wireless channel usage diagram 550 such as may be representative of a conventional wireless channel resource utilization scheme employed in conjunction with communications over the wireless channel 200 of FIG. 2. According to such a conventional scheme, devices may not be permitted to send transmissions to multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective frequency bands. For example, in a conventional HE-WLAN, an AP may not be permitted to send packets to multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels. In conventional systems, when a device wishes to transmit different respective messages to multiple other devices, it may be forced to transmit each of the messages during a different time interval, even when the bandwidth of the channel is equal to or greater than the combined bandwidth requirements of the messages.

In the example of FIG. 5, an AP 502 wishes to send a transmission 510 to a STA 504, a transmission 512 to a STA 506, and a transmission 514 to a STA 508. Because it is not permitted to send packets to multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective subchannels, the AP 502 is forced to perform each transmission during a different time interval. Namely, the AP 502 sends transmission 510 to STA 504 over S-CH 202 during time interval 516, sends transmission 512 to STA 506 over S-CH 202 during time interval 518, and sends transmission 514 to STA 508 over S-CHs 202 and 204 during time interval 520. Meanwhile, S- CH 204 is unused during time intervals 516 and 518, and S-CHs 206 and 208 are unused during time intervals 516, 518, and 520. FIG. 6 illustrates a communications exchange diagram 600 and a wireless channel usage diagram 650 such as may be representative of improved wireless channel resource utilization techniques employed in conjunction with communications over the wireless channel 200 of FIG. 2 in some embodiments. More particularly, communications exchange diagram 600 and wireless channel usage diagram 650 may be representative of the implementation of a DL MU-FDM scheme for wireless channel 200. According to such a DL MU-FDM scheme, devices may be permitted to send transmissions to multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective frequency bands. For example, if a DL MU-FDM scheme is implemented in an HE-WLAN, an AP may be permitted to send packets to multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels.

In FIG. 6, as in FIG. 5, AP 502 sends respective transmissions 510, 512, and 514 to STAs 504, 506, and 508. However, in FIG. 6, a DL MU-FDM scheme is implemented that enables AP 502 to send packets to multiple STAs at the same time using different respective S-CHs. As such, during the single time interval 516, AP 502 sends transmission 510 to STA 504 over S-CH 202, sends transmission 512 to STA 506 over S-CH 202, and sends transmission 514 to STA 508 over S-CHs 202 and 204. As a result, channel 200 is completely utilized during time interval 516, transmissions 512 and 514 arrive at respective STAs 506 and 508 earlier than they do in the conventional implementation of FIG. 5, and the channel 200 is completely available during time intervals 518 and 520. It is worthy of note that although it is the AP 302 that sends packets to multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels in FIG. 6, a STA may additionally or alternatively possess this capability in various embodiments. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 7 illustrates a communications exchange diagram 700 and a wireless channel usage diagram 750 such as may be representative of improved wireless channel resource utilization techniques employed in conjunction with communications over the wireless channel 200 of FIG. 2 in some embodiments. More particularly, communications exchange diagram 700 and wireless channel usage diagram 750 may be representative of the implementation of an opportunistic device-to-device (D2D) scheme for wireless channel 200. According to such an opportunistic D2D scheme, devices that have D2D transmissions to send may utilize residual sub-channels to send such transmissions, resulting in more efficient channel utilization during the corresponding time intervals. For example, in an HE-WLAN, a STA may utilize one or more residual subchannels to send a Wi-Fi Direct transmission to another STA during a same time interval as that during which an AP sends a transmission to a third STA. In the example of FIG. 7, a STA 704 wishes to send a transmission 714 to an AP 702, a STA 706 wishes to send a transmission 716 to a STA 708, and both transmissions require two sub-channels of bandwidth. In order to secure wireless channel resources for the transmission 714, STA 704 sends an RTS 710 to AP 702 over S-CH 202 during a time interval 718. In response to the RTS 710, AP 702 allocates S-CHs 202 and 204 for use by STA 704 during a time interval 722, and sends a clear-to-send message (CTS) 712 to STA 704 during a time interval 720. AP 702 sends CTS 712 over S-CHs 202 and 204, and CTS 712 indicates that S-CHs 202 and 204 are allocated for use by STA 704 during time interval 722. Based on the CTS 712, STA 704 sends transmission 714 to AP 702 over S-CHs 202 and 204 during time interval 722.

STA 706 monitors S-CH 202 and overhears CTS 712 when AP 702 sends it to STA 704 during time interval 720. Based on CTS 712, STA 706 determines that S-CHs 202 and 204 have been allocated with respect to time interval 722, but that S-CHs 206 and 208 constitute residual sub-channels with respect to time interval 722. STA 706 then uses the residual S-CHs 206 and 208 to send transmission 716 to STA 708 during time interval 722. As a result, channel 200 is completely utilized during time interval 722, transmission 716 arrives at STA 708 earlier than it would if the opportunistic D2D scheme were not employed, and the channel 200 is completely available during time interval 724. It is worthy of note that although STA 706 detects the residual S-CHs 206 and 208 for use in opportunistic D2D based on CTS 712 in the example of FIG. 7, the embodiments are not limited to this example. In various embodiments, for example, such a detection may be performed based on overheard data packet transmissions, CTSs, and/or other types of messages. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 800. Apparatus 800 comprises an example of a device that may operate in conjunction with one or more improved wireless channel resource utilization techniques. For example, in some embodiments, apparatus 800 may perform operations in conjunction with a UL MU-FDM scheme such as that illustrated in FIG. 4, and/or a DL MU-FDM scheme such as that illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 8, apparatus 800 comprises multiple elements including a processor circuit 802, a memory unit 804, an allocation component 806, and a communications component 808. The embodiments, however, are not limited to the type, number, or arrangement of elements shown in this figure.

In various embodiments, apparatus 800 may comprise processor circuit 802. Processor circuit 802 may be implemented using any processor or logic device, such as a complex instruction set computer (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, an x86 instruction set compatible processor, a processor implementing a combination of instruction sets, a multi-core processor such as a dual-core processor or dual-core mobile processor, or any other

microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU). Processor circuit 802 may also be implemented as a dedicated processor, such as a controller, a microcontroller, an embedded processor, a chip multiprocessor (CMP), a co-processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, a media processor, an input/output (I/O) processor, a media access control (MAC) processor, a radio baseband processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), and so forth. In one embodiment, for example, processor circuit 802 may be implemented as a general purpose processor, such as a processor made by Intel® Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, apparatus 800 may comprise or be arranged to communicatively couple with a memory unit 804. Memory unit 804 may be implemented using any machine- readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data, including both volatile and nonvolatile memory. For example, memory unit 804 may include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), Double-Data-Rate DRAM

(DDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, polymer memory such as ferroelectric polymer memory, ovonic memory, phase change or ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing information. It is worthy of note that some portion or all of memory unit 804 may be included on the same integrated circuit as processor circuit 802, or alternatively some portion or all of memory unit 804 may be disposed on an integrated circuit or other medium, for example a hard disk drive, that is external to the integrated circuit of processor circuit 802. Although memory unit 804 is comprised within apparatus 800 in FIG. 8, memory unit 804 may be external to apparatus 800 in some embodiments. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, apparatus 800 may comprise an allocation component 806. Allocation component 806 may comprise logic, circuitry, and/or instructions operative to manage the allocation of resources of a wireless channel for use by various remote devices. In some embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate different subchannels of such a wireless channel for use by different remote devices. In various

embodiments, the wireless channel may comprise a wireless channel in an HE-WLAN. The embodiments are not limited in this context. In some embodiments, apparatus 800 may comprise a communications component 808. Communications component 808 may comprise logic, circuitry, and/or instructions operative to send messages to one or more remote devices and/or to receive messages from one or more remote devices. In various embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to receive requests for channel resource allocations and to respond to such requests. In some embodiments, communications component 808 may additionally or alternatively be operative to receive data transmissions and to send acknowledgments of those data transmissions.

Communications component 808 may be operative to send and/or receive other types of communications in various embodiments, and the embodiments are not limited to these examples.

FIG. 8 also illustrates a block diagram of a system 840. System 840 may comprise any of the aforementioned elements of apparatus 800. System 840 may further comprise one or more additional components. For example, in various embodiments, system 840 may comprise a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 844. RF transceiver 844 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting and receiving signals using various suitable wireless communications techniques. Such techniques may involve communications across one or more wireless networks.

Exemplary wireless networks include (but are not limited to) wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs), wireless metropolitan area network (WMANs), cellular networks, and satellite networks. In communicating across such networks, RF transceiver 844 may operate in accordance with one or more applicable standards in any version. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, system 840 may comprise one or more RF antennas 857. Examples of any particular RF antenna 857 may include an internal antenna, an omni-directional antenna, a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, an end-fed antenna, a circularly polarized antenna, a micro- strip antenna, a diversity antenna, a dual antenna, a tri-band antenna, a quad-band antenna, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

In various embodiments, system 840 may comprise a display 845. Display 845 may comprise any display device capable of displaying information received from processor element 802. Examples for display 845 may include a television, a monitor, a projector, and a computer screen. In one embodiment, for example, display 845 may be implemented by a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) or other type of suitable visual interface. Display 845 may comprise, for example, a touch-sensitive display screen ("touchscreen"). In various implementations, display 845 may comprise one or more thin-film transistors (TFT) LCD including embedded transistors. The embodiments are not limited in this context. In general operation, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may be operative to communicate with one or more remote devices over a wireless channel 835. In some embodiments, wireless channel 835 may comprise a wireless channel for a wireless network, such as a WLAN or HE- WLAN. In various embodiments, wireless channel 835 may comprise a plurality of sub- channels 837, each of which comprises a portion of the total bandwidth of wireless channel 835. For example, in some embodiments, wireless channel 835 may comprise an 80 MHz channel of an HE- WLAN, and may contain four sub-channels 837, each of which may comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In various embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may operate in accordance with a UL MU-FDM scheme for wireless channel 835. In some such embodiments, according to the UL MU-FDM scheme, devices communicating over wireless channel 835 may be permitted to receive transmissions from multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective subchannels 837. In various embodiments, based on the UL MU-FDM scheme, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may be operative to receive transmissions from multiple remote devices 850 concurrently, using different respective sub-channels 837. For example, in some embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may comprise an AP that is operative to receive transmissions from multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels 837. The

embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may comprise a device operative to assign, allocate, and/or otherwise manage resources of wireless channel 835. For example, in some embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may comprise an AP of an HE- WLAN, and may allocate sub-channels 837 of wireless channel 835 for use by STAs in the HE- WLAN. In various embodiments, during operation in accordance with the UL MU-FDM scheme, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may be operative via communications component 808 to receive a channel resource request 810 from a remote device 850-1. Channel resource request 810 may comprise information indicating that the remote device 850-1 wishes to send a message 812 to apparatus 800 and/or system 840 and requesting that resources of wireless channel 835 be allocated for that purpose. For example, in some embodiments, remote device 850-1 may comprise a STA in an HE- WLAN managed by apparatus 800 and/or system 840, and channel resource request 810 may comprise an RTS. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In various embodiments, based on the channel resource request 810, allocation component 806 may be operative to determine a time interval 814 and operative to allocate one or more of sub-channels 837 for receiving the message 812 during the time interval 814. In FIG. 8, the allocated sub-channels 838 comprised within sub-channels 837 depict the one or more sub- channels 837 that may be allocated for receiving the message 812 during the time interval 814. In some embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to select the time interval 814 and/or to determine the allocated sub-channels 838 for the message 812 based on the channel resource request 810. For example, in various embodiments, the channel resource request 810 may indicate a size of the message 812, and allocation component 806 may be operative to select the time interval 814 and the number of allocated sub-channels 838 based on the size of the message 812. In some embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to determine based on the channel resource request 810 that the remote device 850-1 is capable of using only a subset of sub-channels 837, and may select the time interval 814 and/or the allocated sub- channels 838 accordingly. In various embodiments, for example, wireless channel 835 may comprise an 80 MHz channel of an HE-WLAN, but remote device 850-1 may comprise a legacy STA that is only capable of using 40 MHz of bandwidth. In such embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to select only sub-channels 837 that the remote device 850-1 is capable of using when allocating sub-channels 837 for receiving the message 812 from remote device 850-1 during time interval 814. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In some embodiments, once it has allocated one or more sub-channels 837 for receiving the message 812 during the time interval 814, allocation component 806 may be operative to identify one or more residual sub-channels 839 for the time interval 814. Residual sub-channels 839 may comprise sub-channels 837 that are not comprised within allocated sub-channels 838, and that are thus available for use during the time interval 814. For example, with respect to the aforementioned scenario in which wireless channel 835 comprises an 80 MHz HE-WLAN channel but remote device 850-1 comprises a legacy STA, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate two 20 MHz sub-channels for receiving message 812 and then to identify the remaining two 20 MHz sub-channels as residual sub-channels 839 with respect to the time interval 814. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In various embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate one or more residual sub-channels 839 for prospective use by one or more other remote devices during the time interval 814. For example, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate a residual sub-channel 839 for prospective use by a remote device 850-2 during the time interval 814. In some embodiments, remote device 850-2 may comprise a remote device in a same wireless network as that of remote device 850-1. For example, in various embodiments in which remote device 850-1 comprises a STA in an HE-WLAN managed by apparatus 800 and/or system 840, remote device 850-2 may comprise another STA in that HE-WLAN. In some embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate one or more residual sub- channels 839 for prospective use by one or more remote devices without knowledge of whether those remote devices have data to transmit. For example, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate a residual sub-channel 839 for prospective use by remote device 850-2 during time interval 814 without knowledge of whether remote device 850-2 has data to transmit. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In various embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send one or more resource allocation notifications 816 to one or more respective remote devices. In some embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send the one or more resource allocation notifications 816 over wireless channel 835. In various embodiments, each resource allocation notification 816 may comprise information identifying the time interval 814 and identifying the sub-channels 837 that have been allocated for use by a respective remote device 850 during the time interval 814. In some embodiments, resource allocation notifications 816 may comprise one or more unsolicited resource allocation notifications 818. In various embodiments, each unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 may comprise a resource allocation notification 816 that identifies residual sub-channels 839 that have been allocated for prospective use by a remote device during time interval 814. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, each resource allocation notification 816 and/or unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 may comprise a distinct CTS or other message, or be comprised within a distinct CTS or other message. For example, in various embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send a separate CTS for each sub-channel 837 that it has allocated for use during time interval 814, or a separate CTS for each remote device 850 for which it has allocated at least one sub-channel 837 for use during time interval 814. In some such embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to transmit the various CTSs during a same time interval, over different respective sub-channels 837 of wireless channel 835. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In various embodiments, some or all resource allocation notifications 816 and/or unsolicited resource allocation notifications 818 may comprise fields or other portions within a same CTS or other message. For example, in some embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send a single CTS that comprises multiple resource allocation notifications 816 and/or unsolicited resource allocation notifications 818, each identifying subchannels 837 allocated for use by a respective remote device 850. The embodiments are not limited to this example. In various embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send a resource allocation notification 816 to remote device 850-1. In some embodiments, the resource allocation notification 816 may comprise information identifying the time interval 814 and information identifying the one or more allocated sub-channels 838 selected by allocation component 806 for receiving message 812 from remote device 850-1 during time interval 814. In various embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send an unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 to remote device 850-2. In some embodiments, the unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 may comprise information identifying the time interval 814 and information identifying the one or more residual sub-channels 839 allocated by allocation component 806 for prospective use by remote device 850-2 during time interval 814, and may authorize the remote device 850-2 to transmit over the one or more residual sub-channels 839 during time interval 814. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, remote device 850-2 may not have data to send to apparatus 800 and/or system 840. As such, in some embodiments, remote device 850-2 may ignore the unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 that it receives. In various other embodiments, however, remote device 850-2 may wish to send a message 820 to apparatus 800 and/or system 840. In some such embodiments, remote device 850-2 may be operative to use the channel resources identified by the unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 in order to send the message 820 to apparatus 800 and/or system 840. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, during time interval 814, communications component 808 may be operative to receive message 812 from remote device 850-1 over one or more allocated subchannels 838, and to receive message 820 from remote device 850-2 over one or more residual sub-channels 839. In some embodiments, in response to these received messages,

communications component 808 may be operative to send one or more acknowledgments 822. In various embodiments, each acknowledgment 822 may confirm receipt of a respective message. In some embodiments, communications component 808 may be operative to send each acknowledgment 822 over a same sub-channel 837 or set of sub-channels 837 as that over which it received the corresponding message. For example, communications component 808 may be operative to receive message 812 from remote device 850-1 over an allocated sub-channel 838 and send an acknowledgment 822-1 of the message 812 to remote device 850-1 over that same allocated sub-channel 838, and may be operative to receive message 820 from remote device 850-2 over a residual sub-channel 839 and send an acknowledgment 822-2 of the message 820 to remote device 850-2 over that same residual sub-channel 839. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

It is worthy of note that although FIG. 8 depicts only the single remote device 850-2 that makes use of residual sub-channels 839, the embodiments are not limited in this context. In various embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate residual subchannels 839 among multiple remote devices for use during the same time interval.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate residual sub-channels 839 to only some devices among a set of devices comprised in a wireless network managed by apparatus 800 and/or system 840. In various embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate residual sub-channels 839 among multiple remote devices in conjunction with a priority system. In some such embodiments, allocation component 806 may be operative to allocate residual sub-channels 839 such that remote devices expected to have traffic with a higher priority with respect to data rate and/or latency are more likely to receive residual sub-channel allocations. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may operate in accordance with a DL MU-FDM scheme for wireless channel 835. In some such embodiments, according to the DL MU-FDM scheme, devices communicating over wireless channel 835 may be permitted to send transmissions to multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective subchannels 837. In various embodiments, based on the DL MU-FDM scheme, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may be operative to send transmissions to multiple remote devices 850 concurrently, using different respective sub-channels 837. For example, in some embodiments, apparatus 800 and/or system 840 may comprise an AP that is operative to send transmissions to multiple STAs concurrently, using different respective sub-channels 837. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Operations for the above embodiments may be further described with reference to the following figures and accompanying examples. Some of the figures may include a logic flow. Although such figures presented herein may include a particular logic flow, it can be appreciated that the logic flow merely provides an example of how the general functionality as described herein can be implemented. Further, the given logic flow does not necessarily have to be executed in the order presented unless otherwise indicated. In addition, the given logic flow may be implemented by a hardware element, a software element executed by a processor, or any combination thereof. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 900, which may be representative of the operations executed by one or more embodiments described herein. More particularly, logic flow 900 may be representative of operations executed in accordance with a UL MU-FDM scheme in various embodiments. As shown in logic flow 900, at 902, one or more sub-channels may be allocated for receiving a first message during a time interval. For example, allocation component 806 of FIG. 8 may be operative to allocate one or more sub-channels 837 of wireless channel 835 for receiving message 812 during time interval 814. At 904, a residual sub-channel may be identified for the time interval 814. For example, allocation component 806 of FIG. 8 may be operative to identify a residual sub-channel 839 for time interval time interval 814.

At 906, an unsolicited resource allocation notification may be sent that authorizes a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval. For example, communications component 808 of FIG. 8 may be operative to send an unsolicited resource allocation notification 818 that authorizes remote device 850-2 to transmit over a residual subchannel 839 during time interval 814. At 908, a second message may be received over the residual sub-channel during the time interval. For example, communications component 808 of FIG. 8 may be operative to receive message 820 from remote device 850-2 during time interval 814, over a residual sub-channel 839 identified in an unsolicited resource allocation notification 818. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 1000. Apparatus 1000 comprises an example of a device that may operate in conjunction with one or more improved wireless channel resource utilization techniques. For example, in some embodiments, apparatus 1000 may perform operations in conjunction with a UL MU-FDM scheme such as that illustrated in FIG. 4, and/or an opportunistic D2D scheme such as that illustrated in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 10, apparatus 1000 comprises multiple elements including a processor circuit 1002, a memory unit 1004, and a communications component 1008. The embodiments, however, are not limited to the type, number, or arrangement of elements shown in this figure.

In various embodiments, apparatus 1000 may comprise processor circuit 1002. Processor circuit 1002 may be implemented using any processor or logic device, and may be the same as or similar to processor circuit 802 of FIG. 8. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, apparatus 1000 may comprise or be arranged to communicatively couple with a memory unit 1004. Memory unit 1004 may be implemented using any machine- readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data, including both volatile and nonvolatile memory, and may be the same as or similar to memory unit 804 of FIG. 8. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, apparatus 1000 may comprise a communications component 1008. Communications component 1008 may comprise logic, circuitry, and/or instructions operative to send messages to one or more remote devices and/or to receive messages from one or more remote devices. In some embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to send requests for channel resource allocations and to receive responses to such requests. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may additionally or alternatively be operative to send data transmissions and to receive acknowledgments of those data transmissions. Communications component 1008 may be operative to send and/or receive other types of communications in some embodiments, and the embodiments are not limited to these examples.

FIG. 10 also illustrates a block diagram of a system 1040. System 1040 may comprise any of the aforementioned elements of apparatus 1000. System 1040 may further comprise one or more additional components. For example, in various embodiments, system 1040 may comprise a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 1044. RF transceiver 1044 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting and receiving signals using various suitable wireless communications techniques, and may be the same as or similar to RF transceiver 844 of FIG. 8. The

embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, system 1040 may comprise one or more RF antennas 1057.

Examples of any particular RF antenna 1057 may include any of the examples previously presented with respect to RF antennas 857 of FIG. 8. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

In various embodiments, system 1040 may comprise a display 1045. Display 1045 may comprise any display device capable of displaying information received from processor element 1002, and may be the same as or similar to display 845 of FIG. 8. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In general operation, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 may be operative to communicate with one or more remote devices over a wireless channel 1035. In various embodiments, wireless channel 1035 may comprise a wireless channel for a wireless network, such as a WLAN or HE- WLAN. In some embodiments, wireless channel 1035 may comprise a plurality of subchannels 1037, each of which comprises a portion of the total bandwidth of wireless channel 1035. For example, in various embodiments, wireless channel 1035 may comprise an 80 MHz channel of an HE- WLAN, and may contain four sub-channels 1037, each of which may comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In some embodiments, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 may operate in accordance with a UL MU-FDM scheme for wireless channel 1035. In various such embodiments, according to the UL MU-FDM scheme, devices communicating over wireless channel 1035 may be permitted to receive transmissions from multiple other devices concurrently, using different respective subchannels 1037. In some embodiments, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 may be operative to send one or more messages to a remote device 1050-1 in conjunction with the UL MU-FDM scheme. In various such embodiments, wireless channel 1035 may comprise a wireless channel for an HE-WLAN, and the remote device 1050-1 may comprise an AP for the HE-WLAN. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In some embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to receive an unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 from remote device 1050-1 over wireless channel 1035. In various embodiments, the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 may comprise information identifying a time interval 1014 and a residual sub-channel 1039 for that time interval 1014, and indicating that apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 is authorized to transmit over the residual sub-channel 1039 during the time interval 1014. In some

embodiments, the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 may comprise a CTS. In various other embodiments, the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 may comprise a field or other portion within a CTS. In some such embodiments, the CTS may comprise one or more other resource allocation notifications addressed to one or more other remote devices. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to receive the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 over a same sub-channel 1037 as the residual sub-channel 1039 that the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 identifies. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to use the channel resources identified by the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 to send a message 1020 to remote device 1050-1. More particularly, communications component 1008 may be operative to send the message 1020 to remote device 1050-1 during the time interval 1014, over the residual sub-channel 1039. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to determine a start time for sending the message 1020 by overhearing communications between other devices over wireless channel 1035. For example, in some embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to determine a start time for sending message 1020 by overhearing an RTS that remote device 1050-1 receives over wireless channel 1035 and/or a CTS that remote device 1050-1 sends over wireless channel 1035. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to determine a start time for sending the message 1020 based alternatively or additionally on information in unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018, such as network synchronization information. The embodiments are not limited to this example. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to receive an acknowledgment 1022 from remote device 1050-1 in response to the message 1020. In some embodiments, acknowledgement 1022 may comprise information indicating that remote device 1050-1 properly received message 1020. In various embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to receive the acknowledgment over a same sub-channel 1037 as the residual sub-channel 1039 over which it sent message 1020. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In some embodiments, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 may operate in accordance with an opportunistic D2D scheme for wireless channel 1035. In various embodiments, according to the opportunistic D2D scheme, devices that have D2D transmissions to send may utilize residual sub-channels 1039 of wireless channel 1035 to send such transmissions. In some embodiments, such devices may identify such residual sub-channels 1039 by overhearing communications over wireless channel 1035. For example, in various embodiments in which wireless channel 1035 comprises a wireless channel of an HE-WLAN, devices may identify residual sub-channels 1039 by overhearing RTS/CTS exchanges on wireless channel 1035. The embodiments are not limited to this example.

In some embodiments, communications component 1008 may be operative to identify a residual sub-channel 1039 for a time interval by overhearing an RTS received by remote device 1050-1 and/or by overhearing a CTS sent by remote device 1050-1. In various embodiments, may be operative to send a D2D message 1022 to a remote device 1050-2 during the time interval, over the residual sub-channel 1039 that it has identified. In some embodiments, prior to sending the D2D message 1022, communications component 1008 may be operative to perform a random backoff and then determine following the random backoff that the residual sub-channel 1039 is still available for use during time interval 1014. In various embodiments, remote device 1050-2 may comprise a STA in a same HE-WLAN as apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040. In some embodiments, the D2D message 1022 may comprise a Wi-Fi Direct message. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 1100, which may be representative of the operations executed by one or more embodiments described herein. More particularly, logic flow 1 100 may be representative of operations executed in accordance with a UL MU-FDM scheme in some embodiments. As shown in logic flow 1 100, at 1 102, an unsolicited resource allocation notification may be received that identifies a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval. For example, communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to receive an unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 from remote device 1050-1 over wireless channel 1035, and the unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018 may identify time interval 1014 and a residual sub-channel 1039. At 1104, a message may be sent over the residual sub-channel during the time interval. For example, communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to send message 1020 during time interval 1014, over a residual sub-channel 1039 identified by a unsolicited resource allocation notification 1018. At 1 106, an acknowledgment of the message may be received over the residual subchannel following the time interval. For example, communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to receive acknowledgment 1022 from remote device 1050-1 over the residual sub-channel 1039, following the time interval 1014. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 1200, which may be representative of the operations executed by one or more embodiments described herein. More particularly, logic flow 1200 may be representative of operations executed in accordance with an opportunistic D2D scheme in various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 12, at 1202, a wireless channel may be monitored. For example communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to monitor wireless channel 1035. At 1204, a residual sub-channel of the wireless channel may be identified for a time interval, by overhearing one or more transmissions over the wireless channel. For example, communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to identify a residual sub-channel 1039 for time interval 1014, by overhearing a RTS/CTS exchange over wireless channel 1035. At 1206, a D2D message may be sent during the time interval, over the residual sub-channel. For example, communications component 1008 of FIG. 10 may be operative to send D2D message 1022 to remote device 1050-2 during time interval 1014, over the residual sub-channel 1039. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a storage medium 1300. Storage medium 1300 may comprise any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or machine-readable storage medium, such as an optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage medium. In various

embodiments, storage medium 1300 may comprise an article of manufacture. In some embodiments, storage medium 1300 may store computer-executable instructions, such as computer-executable instructions to implement logic flow 900 of FIG. 9, logic flow 1100 of FIG. 1 1, and/or logic flow 1200 of FIG. 12. Examples of a computer-readable storage medium or machine-readable storage medium may include any tangible media capable of storing electronic data, including volatile memory or non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and so forth. Examples of computer-executable instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, object-oriented code, visual code, and the like. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a system 1400. In various embodiments, system 1400 may be representative of a system or architecture suitable for use with one or more embodiments described herein, such as apparatus 800 and/or system 840 of FIG. 8, logic flow 900 of FIG. 9, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 of FIG. 10, logic flow 1100 of FIG. 11, logic flow 1200 of FIG. 12, and/or storage medium 1300 of FIG. 13. The embodiments are not limited in this respect.

As shown in FIG. 14, system 1400 may include multiple elements. One or more elements may be implemented using one or more circuits, components, registers, processors, software subroutines, modules, or any combination thereof, as desired for a given set of design or performance constraints. Although FIG. 14 shows a limited number of elements in a certain topology by way of example, it can be appreciated that more or less elements in any suitable topology may be used in system 1400 as desired for a given implementation. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, system 1400 may include a processor circuit 1402. Processor circuit 1402 may be implemented using any processor or logic device, and may be the same as or similar to processor circuit 802 of FIG. 8 and/or processor circuit 1002 of FIG. 10.

In one embodiment, system 1400 may include a memory unit 1404 to couple to processor circuit 1402. Memory unit 1404 may be coupled to processor circuit 1402 via communications bus 1443, or by a dedicated communications bus between processor circuit 1402 and memory unit 1404, as desired for a given implementation. Memory unit 1404 may be implemented using any machine-readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data, including both volatile and non-volatile memory, and may be the same as or similar to memory unit 804 of FIG. 8 and/or memory unit 1004 of FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the machine-readable or computer-readable medium may include a non-transitory medium. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, system 1400 may include an RF transceiver 1444. RF transceiver 1444 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting and receiving signals using various suitable wireless communications techniques, and may be the same as or similar to RF transceiver 844 of FIG. 8 and/or RF transceiver 1044 of FIG. 10.

In various embodiments, system 1400 may include a display 1445. Display 1445 may comprise any display device capable of displaying information received from processor circuit 1402, and may be the same as or similar to display 845 of FIG. 8 and/or display 1045 of FIG. 10. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, system 1400 may include storage 1446. Storage 1446 may be implemented as a non-volatile storage device such as, but not limited to, a magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tape drive, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, flash memory, battery backed-up SDRAM (synchronous DRAM), and/or a network accessible storage device. In embodiments, storage 1446 may include technology to increase the storage performance enhanced protection for valuable digital media when multiple hard drives are included, for example. Further examples of storage 1446 may include a hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of DVD devices, a tape device, a cassette device, or the like. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In various embodiments, system 1400 may include one or more I/O adapters 1447.

Examples of I O adapters 1447 may include Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports/adapters, IEEE 1394 Firewire ports/adapters, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a system 1500. In various embodiments, system 1500 may be representative of a system or architecture suitable for use with one or more embodiments described herein, such as apparatus 800 and/or system 840 of FIG. 8, logic flow 900 of FIG. 9, apparatus 1000 and/or system 1040 of FIG. 10, logic flow 1100 of FIG. 11, logic flow 1200 of FIG. 12, storage medium 1300 of FIG. 13, and/or system 1400 of FIG. 14. The embodiments are not limited in this respect.

As shown in FIG. 15, system 1500 may include multiple elements. One or more elements may be implemented using one or more circuits, components, registers, processors, software subroutines, modules, or any combination thereof, as desired for a given set of design or performance constraints. Although FIG. 15 shows a limited number of elements in a certain topology by way of example, it can be appreciated that more or less elements in any suitable topology may be used in system 1500 as desired for a given implementation. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

In embodiments, system 1500 may be a media system although system 1500 is not limited to this context. For example, system 1500 may be incorporated into a personal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet, touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combination cellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone, smart tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID), messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

In embodiments, system 1500 includes a platform 1501 coupled to a display 1545.

Platform 1501 may receive content from a content device such as content services device(s) 1548 or content delivery device(s) 1549 or other similar content sources. A navigation controller 1550 including one or more navigation features may be used to interact with, for example, platform 1501 and/or display 1545. Each of these components is described in more detail below.

In embodiments, platform 1501 may include any combination of a processor circuit 1502, chipset 1503, memory unit 1504, transceiver 1544, storage 1546, applications 1551, and/or graphics subsystem 1552. Chipset 1503 may provide intercommunication among processor circuit 1502, memory unit 1504, transceiver 1544, storage 1546, applications 1551, and/or graphics subsystem 1552. For example, chipset 1503 may include a storage adapter (not depicted) capable of providing intercommunication with storage 1546.

Processor circuit 1502 may be implemented using any processor or logic device, and may be the same as or similar to processor circuit 1402 in FIG. 14.

Memory unit 1504 may be implemented using any machine-readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data, and may be the same as or similar to memory unit 1404 in FIG. 14.

Transceiver 1544 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting and receiving signals using various suitable wireless communications techniques, and may be the same as or similar to transceiver 1444 in FIG. 14.

Display 1545 may include any television type monitor or display, and may be the same as or similar to display 1445 in FIG 14.

Storage 1546 may be implemented as a non-volatile storage device, and may be the same as or similar to storage 1446 in FIG. 14.

Graphics subsystem 1552 may perform processing of images such as still or video for display. Graphics subsystem 1552 may be a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a visual processing unit (VPU), for example. An analog or digital interface may be used to

communicatively couple graphics subsystem 1552 and display 1545. For example, the interface may be any of a High-Definition Multimedia Interface, DisplayPort, wireless HDMI, and/or wireless HD compliant techniques. Graphics subsystem 1552 could be integrated into processor circuit 1502 or chipset 1503. Graphics subsystem 1552 could be a stand-alone card

communicatively coupled to chipset 1503. The graphics and/or video processing techniques described herein may be implemented in various hardware architectures. For example, graphics and/or video functionality may be integrated within a chipset. Alternatively, a discrete graphics and/or video processor may be used. As still another embodiment, the graphics and/or video functions may be implemented by a general purpose processor, including a multi-core processor. In a further embodiment, the functions may be implemented in a consumer electronics device.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 1548 may be hosted by any national, international and/or independent service and thus accessible to platform 1501 via the Internet, for example. Content services device(s) 1548 may be coupled to platform 1501 and/or to display 1545. Platform 1501 and/or content services device(s) 1548 may be coupled to a network 1553 to communicate (e.g., send and/or receive) media information to and from network 1553.

Content delivery device(s) 1549 also may be coupled to platform 1501 and/or to display 1545.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 1548 may include a cable television box, personal computer, network, telephone, Internet enabled devices or appliance capable of delivering digital information and/or content, and any other similar device capable of unidirectionally or bidirectionally communicating content between content providers and platform 1501 and/display 1545, via network 1553 or directly. It will be appreciated that the content may be communicated unidirectionally and/or bidirectionally to and from any one of the components in system 1500 and a content provider via network 1553. Examples of content may include any media information including, for example, video, music, medical and gaming information, and so forth.

Content services device(s) 1548 receives content such as cable television programming including media information, digital information, and/or other content. Examples of content providers may include any cable or satellite television or radio or Internet content providers. The provided examples are not meant to limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

In embodiments, platform 1501 may receive control signals from navigation controller 1550 having one or more navigation features. The navigation features of navigation controller 1550 may be used to interact with a user interface 1554, for example. In embodiments, navigation controller 1550 may be a pointing device that may be a computer hardware component (specifically human interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (e.g., continuous and multi-dimensional) data into a computer. Many systems such as graphical user interfaces (GUI), and televisions and monitors allow the user to control and provide data to the computer or television using physical gestures. Movements of the navigation features of navigation controller 1550 may be echoed on a display (e.g., display 1545) by movements of a pointer, cursor, focus ring, or other visual indicators displayed on the display. For example, under the control of software applications 1551, the navigation features located on navigation controller 1550 may be mapped to virtual navigation features displayed on user interface 1554. In embodiments, navigation controller 1550 may not be a separate component but integrated into platform 1501 and/or display 1545. Embodiments, however, are not limited to the elements or in the context shown or described herein.

In embodiments, drivers (not shown) may include technology to enable users to instantly turn on and off platform 1501 like a television with the touch of a button after initial boot-up, when enabled, for example. Program logic may allow platform 1501 to stream content to media adaptors or other content services device(s) 1548 or content delivery device(s) 1549 when the platform is turned "off." In addition, chip set 1503 may include hardware and/or software support for 5.1 surround sound audio and/or high definition 7.1 surround sound audio, for example. Drivers may include a graphics driver for integrated graphics platforms. In embodiments, the graphics driver may include a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) Express graphics card.

In various embodiments, any one or more of the components shown in system 1500 may be integrated. For example, platform 1501 and content services device(s) 1548 may be integrated, or platform 1501 and content delivery device(s) 1549 may be integrated, or platform 1501, content services device(s) 1548, and content delivery device(s) 1549 may be integrated, for example. In various embodiments, platform 1501 and display 1545 may be an integrated unit. Display 1545 and content service device(s) 1548 may be integrated, or display 1545 and content delivery device(s) 1549 may be integrated, for example. These examples are not meant to limit the disclosed subject matter.

In various embodiments, system 1500 may be implemented as a wireless system, a wired system, or a combination of both. When implemented as a wireless system, system 1500 may include components and interfaces suitable for communicating over a wireless shared media, such as one or more antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, amplifiers, filters, control logic, and so forth. An example of wireless shared media may include portions of a wireless spectrum, such as the RF spectrum and so forth. When implemented as a wired system, system 1500 may include components and interfaces suitable for communicating over wired communications media, such as I/O adapters, physical connectors to connect the I/O adapter with a corresponding wired communications medium, a network interface card (NIC), disc controller, video controller, audio controller, and so forth. Examples of wired communications media may include a wire, cable, metal leads, printed circuit board (PCB), backplane, switch fabric, semiconductor material, twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics, and so forth.

Platform 1501 may establish one or more logical or physical channels to communicate information. The information may include media information and control information. Media information may refer to any data representing content meant for a user. Examples of content may include, for example, data from a voice conversation, videoconference, streaming video, electronic mail ("email") message, voice mail message, alphanumeric symbols, graphics, image, video, text and so forth. Data from a voice conversation may be, for example, speech information, silence periods, background noise, comfort noise, tones and so forth. Control information may refer to any data representing commands, instructions or control words meant for an automated system. For example, control information may be used to route media information through a system, or instruct a node to process the media information in a predetermined manner. The embodiments, however, are not limited to the elements or in the context shown or described in FIG. 15.

As described above, system 1500 may be embodied in varying physical styles or form factors. FIG. 16 illustrates embodiments of a small form factor device 1600 in which system 1500 may be embodied. In embodiments, for example, device 1600 may be implemented as a mobile computing device having wireless capabilities. A mobile computing device may refer to any device having a processing system and a mobile power source or supply, such as one or more batteries, for example.

As described above, examples of a mobile computing device may include a personal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet, touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combination cellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone, smart tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID), messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

Examples of a mobile computing device also may include computers that are arranged to be worn by a person, such as a wrist computer, finger computer, ring computer, eyeglass computer, belt-clip computer, arm-band computer, shoe computers, clothing computers, and other wearable computers. In embodiments, for example, a mobile computing device may be implemented as a smart phone capable of executing computer applications, as well as voice communications and/or data communications. Although some embodiments may be described with a mobile computing device implemented as a smart phone by way of example, it may be appreciated that other embodiments may be implemented using other wireless mobile computing devices as well. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

As shown in FIG. 16, device 1600 may include a display 1645, a navigation controller 1650, a user interface 1654, a housing 1655, an I/O device 1656, and an antenna 1657. Display 1645 may include any suitable display unit for displaying information appropriate for a mobile computing device, and may be the same as or similar to display 1545 in FIG. 15. Navigation controller 1650 may include one or more navigation features which may be used to interact with user interface 1654, and may be the same as or similar to navigation controller 1550 in FIG. 15. I/O device 1656 may include any suitable I/O device for entering information into a mobile computing device. Examples for I/O device 1656 may include an alphanumeric keyboard, a numeric keypad, a touch pad, input keys, buttons, switches, rocker switches, microphones, speakers, voice recognition device and software, and so forth. Information also may be entered into device 1600 by way of microphone. Such information may be digitized by a voice recognition device. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Various embodiments may be implemented using hardware elements, software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements may include processors,

microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software may include software components, programs, applications, computer programs, application programs, system programs, machine programs, operating system software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces, application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code, computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values, symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an embodiment is implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may vary in accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computational rate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input data rates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and other design or performance constraints.

One or more aspects of at least one embodiment may be implemented by representative instructions stored on a machine-readable medium which represents various logic within the processor, which when read by a machine causes the machine to fabricate logic to perform the techniques described herein. Such representations, known as "IP cores" may be stored on a tangible, machine readable medium and supplied to various customers or manufacturing facilities to load into the fabrication machines that actually make the logic or processor. Some embodiments may be implemented, for example, using a machine-readable medium or article which may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordance with the embodiments. Such a machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software. The machine-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory, removable or nonremovable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like, implemented using any suitable high-level, low- level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments:

Example 1 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 2, the logic of Example 1 may optionally send the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 3, the logic of any one of Examples 1 to 2 may optionally send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 4, the logic of any one of Examples 1 to 3 may optionally identify a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval and send a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, and each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications may optionally correspond to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 5, the logic of Example 4 may optionally send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

In Example 6, the logic of Example 4 may optionally send a plurality of clear-to-send

(CTS) messages, each CTS message may optionally comprise a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, and each CTS message may optionally be sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 7, the logic of any one of Examples 1 to 6 may optionally receive a second message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval and send an acknowledgment of the second message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 8 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 1 to 7, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

In Example 9, the system of Example 8 may optionally comprise a display.

Example 10 is at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 1 1, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of Example 10 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 12, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of Examples 10 to 11 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send a clear- to-send (CTS) message comprising the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 13, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of

Examples 10 to 12 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to identify a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval, and send a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 14, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of Example 13 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

In Example 15, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of Example 13 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) messages, each CTS message comprising a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each CTS message sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 16, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of Examples 10 to 15 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive a second message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval and send an

acknowledgment of the second message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 17 is a wireless communication method, comprising allocating, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identifying, by a processor circuit, a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of subchannels, sending an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 18, the wireless communication method of Example 17 may optionally comprise sending the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 19, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 17 to 18 may optionally comprise sending a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 20, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 17 to 19 may optionally comprise identifying a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval, and sending a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 21, the wireless communication method of Example 20 may optionally comprise sending a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

In Example 22, the wireless communication method of Example 20 may optionally comprise sending a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) messages, each CTS message comprising a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each CTS message sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 23, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 17 to 22 may optionally comprise receiving a second message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval, and sending an acknowledgment of the second message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 24 is at least one machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 17 to 23.

Example 25 is an apparatus, comprising means for performing a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 17 to 23.

Example 26 is a system, comprising an apparatus according to Example 25, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

In Example 27, the system of Example 26 may optionally comprise a display.

Example 28 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising means for allocating, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more subchannels for receiving a first message during a time interval, means for identifying a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of subchannels, means for sending an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 29, the wireless communication apparatus of Example 28 may optionally comprise means for sending the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub- channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 30, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 28 to 29 may optionally comprise means for sending a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the unsolicited resource allocation notification. In Example 31, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 28 to 30 may optionally comprise means for identifying a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval, and means for sending a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 32, the wireless communication apparatus of Example 31 may optionally comprise means for sending a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

In Example 33, the wireless communication apparatus of Example 31 may optionally comprise means for sending a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) messages, each CTS message comprising a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each CTS message sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

In Example 34, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 28 to 33 may optionally comprise means for receiving a second message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval, and means for sending an acknowledgment of the second message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 35 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 28 to 34, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

In Example 36, the system of Example 35 may optionally comprise a display.

Example 37 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to receive, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval, and send a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 38, the logic of Example 37 may optionally receive the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 39, the logic of any one of Examples 37 to 38 may optionally receive a clear- to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 40, the CTS message of Example 39 may optionally comprise at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 41, the logic of any one of Examples 37 to 40 may optionally determine a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification. In Example 42, the logic of any one of Examples 37 to 41 may optionally determine a start time for sending the message by overhearing a request-to-send (RTS) message or clear-to-send (CTS) message transmitted over the wireless communications channel.

In Example 43, the logic of any one of Examples 37 to 42 may optionally receive an acknowledgment of the message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 44 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 37 to 43, a display, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Example 45 is at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to receive, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and send a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 46, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of Example 45 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 47, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of

Examples 45 to 46 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive a clear-to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 48, the CTS message of Example 47 may optionally comprise at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 49, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of Examples 45 to 48 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to determine a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 50, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of Examples 45 to 49 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to determine a start time for sending the message by overhearing a request-to-send (RTS) message or clear-to- send (CTS) message transmitted over the wireless communications channel.

In Example 51, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of any one of Examples 45 to 50 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive an acknowledgment of the message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 52 is a wireless communication method, comprising receiving, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and sending, by a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 53, the wireless communication method of Example 52 may optionally comprise receiving the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 54, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 52 to 53 may optionally comprise receiving a clear-to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 55, the CTS message of Example 54 may optionally comprise at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 56, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 52 to 55 may optionally comprise determining a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 57, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 52 to 56 may optionally comprise determining a start time for sending the message by overhearing a request- to-send (RTS) message or clear-to-send (CTS) message transmitted over the wireless communications channel.

In Example 58, the wireless communication method of any one of Examples 52 to 57 may optionally comprise receiving an acknowledgment of the message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 59 is at least one machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 52 to 58. Example 60 is an apparatus, comprising means for performing a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 52 to 58.

Example 61 is a system, comprising an apparatus according to Example 60, a display, an RF transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Example 62 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising means for receiving, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and means for sending a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 63, the wireless communication apparatus of Example 62 may optionally comprise means for receiving the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

In Example 64, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 62 to 63 may optionally comprise means for receiving a clear-to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 65, the CTS message of Example 64 may optionally comprise at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 66, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 62 to 65 may optionally comprise means for determining a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

In Example 67, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 62 to 66 may optionally comprise means for determining a start time for sending the message by overhearing a request-to-send (RTS) message or clear-to-send (CTS) message transmitted over the wireless communications channel.

In Example 68, the wireless communication apparatus of any one of Examples 62 to 67 may optionally comprise means for receiving an acknowledgment of the message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

Example 69 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 62 to 68, a display, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Example 70 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to monitor a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, overhear one or more communications over the wireless communications channel, identify a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval based on the one or more overheard communications, and send a device-to-device (D2D) message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 71, the logic of Example 70 may optionally perform a random backoff after identifying the residual sub-channel and determine, following the random backoff, that the residual sub-channel is still available for use during the time interval.

In Example 72, the D2D message of any one of Examples 70 to 71 may optionally comprise a Wi-Fi Direct communication.

In Example 73, the wireless communications channel of any one of Examples 70 to 72 may optionally comprise an 80 MHz channel of a high-efficiency wireless local area network (HE- WLAN).

In Example 74, each of the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 70 to 73 may optionally comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel.

In Example 75, plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 70 to 74 may optionally comprise four sub-channels.

In Example 76, the one or more overhead communications of any one of Examples 70 to 75 may optionally comprise one or both of a request-to-send (RTS) message and a clear-to-send (CTS) message.

Example 77 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 70 to 76, a display, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Example 78 is at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to monitor a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, overhear one or more communications over the wireless

communications channel, identify a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval based on the one or more overheard communications, and send a device-to-device (D2D) message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 79, the at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of Example 78 may optionally comprise wireless communication instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to perform a random backoff after identifying the residual sub-channel, and determine, following the random backoff, that the residual sub-channel is still available for use during the time interval. In Example 80, the D2D message of any one of Examples 78 to 79 may optionally comprise a Wi-Fi Direct communication.

In Example 81, the wireless communications channel of any one of Examples 78 to 80 may optionally comprise an 80 MHz channel of a high-efficiency wireless local area network (HE- WLAN).

In Example 82, the each of the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 78 to 81 may optionally comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel.

In Example 83, the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 78 to 82 may optionally comprise four sub-channels.

In Example 84, the one or more overhead communications of any one of Examples 78 to

83 may optionally comprise one or both of a request-to-send (RTS) message and a clear-to-send (CTS) message.

Example 85 is a wireless communication method, comprising monitoring a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, overhearing one or more communications over the wireless communications channel, identifying, by a processor circuit, a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval based on the one or more overheard communications, and sending a device-to-device (D2D) message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 86, the wireless communication method of Example 85 may optionally comprise performing a random backoff after identifying the residual sub-channel, and determining, following the random backoff, that the residual sub-channel is still available for use during the time interval.

In Example 87, the D2D message of any one of Examples 85 to 86 may optionally comprise a Wi-Fi Direct communication.

In Example 88, the wireless communications channel of any one of Examples 85 to 87 may optionally comprise an 80 MHz channel of a high-efficiency wireless local area network (HE-

WLAN).

In Example 89, the each of the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 85 to 88 may optionally comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel.

In Example 90, the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 85 to 89 may optionally comprise four sub-channels.

In Example 91, the one or more overhead communications of any one of Examples 85 to 90 may optionally comprise one or both of a request-to-send (RTS) message and a clear-to-send (CTS) message. Example 92 is at least one machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 85 to 91.

Example 93 is an apparatus, comprising means for performing a wireless communication method according to any one of Examples 85 to 91.

Example 94 is a system, comprising an apparatus according to Example 93, a display, an RF transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Example 95 is a wireless communication apparatus, comprising means for monitoring a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, means for overhearing one or more communications over the wireless communications channel, means for identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval based on the one or more overheard communications, and means for sending a device-to-device (D2D) message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

In Example 96, the wireless communication apparatus of Example 95 may optionally comprise means for performing a random backoff after identifying the residual sub-channel, and means for determining, following the random backoff, that the residual sub-channel is still available for use during the time interval.

In Example 97, the D2D message of any one of Examples 95 to 96 may optionally comprise a Wi-Fi Direct communication.

In Example 98, the wireless communications channel of any one of Examples 95 to 97 may optionally comprise an 80 MHz channel of a high-efficiency wireless local area network (HE- WLAN).

In Example 99, the each of the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 95 to 98 may optionally comprise a 20 MHz sub-channel.

In Example 100, the plurality of sub-channels of any one of Examples 95 to 99 may optionally comprise four sub-channels.

In Example 101, the one or more overhead communications of any one of Examples 95 to 100 may optionally comprise one or both of a request-to-send (RTS) message and a clear-to-send (CTS) message.

Example 102 is a system, comprising a wireless communication apparatus according to any one of Examples 95 to 101, a display, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and one or more RF antennas.

Numerous specific details have been set forth herein to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments. It can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression "coupled" and "connected" along with their derivatives. These terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. For example, some embodiments may be described using the terms "connected" and/or "coupled" to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. The term "coupled," however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, it may be appreciated that terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical quantities (e.g., electronic) within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

It should be noted that the methods described herein do not have to be executed in the order described, or in any particular order. Moreover, various activities described with respect to the methods identified herein can be executed in serial or parallel fashion.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinations of the above

embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Thus, the scope of various embodiments includes any other applications in which the above compositions, structures, and methods are used.

It is emphasized that the Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §

1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment. In the appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as the plain- English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "wherein," respectively.

Moreover, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is;

1. An apparatus, comprising:

logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval, identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels, and send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the logic to send the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the logic to send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the logic to identify a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval and send a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, the logic to send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, the logic to send a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) messages, each CTS message comprising a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each CTS message sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual subchannels for the time interval.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the logic to receive a second message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval and send an acknowledgment of the second message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

8. A system, comprising: an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and

one or more RF antennas.

9. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:

allocate, from among a plurality of sub-channels of a wireless communications channel, one or more sub-channels for receiving a first message during a time interval;

identify a residual sub-channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of sub-channels;

send an unsolicited resource allocation notification authorizing a remote device to transmit over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

10. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

1 1. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to:

identify a plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval; and

send a plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

12. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 1, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send a clear-to-send (CTS) message comprising the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications.

13. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 1, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to send a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) messages, each CTS message comprising a respective one of the plurality of unsolicited resource allocation notifications, each CTS message sent over a respective one of the plurality of residual sub-channels for the time interval.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to receive, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub-channel for the time interval, and send a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the logic to receive the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, the logic to receive a clear-to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the CTS message comprising at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, the logic to determine a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, the logic to receive an acknowledgment of the message over the residual sub-channel following the time interval.

20. A system, comprising:

an apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 19;

a display;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and

one or more RF antennas.

21. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive, over a wireless communications channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels, an unsolicited resource allocation notification identifying a time interval and a residual sub- channel for the time interval, the residual sub-channel comprised among the plurality of subchannels; and

send a message over the residual sub-channel during the time interval.

22. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive the unsolicited resource allocation notification over the residual sub-channel prior to the time interval.

23. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to receive a clear-to-send (CTS) message that contains the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

24. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 23, the CTS messag comprising at least one other resource allocation notification in addition to the unsolicited resource allocation notification.

25. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, comprising instructions that, in response to being executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to determine a start time for sending the message based on the unsolicited resource allocation notification.