WO2019005078A1

WO2019005078A1 - Identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse

Info

Publication number: WO2019005078A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/040089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Po-Kai Huang; Laurent Cariou; Qinghua Li; Robert Stacey; Jiang Feng
Original assignee: Intel Corporation
Priority date: 2017-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-29
Publication date: 2019-01-03

Abstract

Devices and techniques for identification of a station device for spatial frequency reuse are provided. In some embodiments, the identification of the station device can be based on interference information obtained by the station device and sent to a first AP device. The interference information can be indicative or otherwise representative of respective amounts of interference between the station device and each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) of one or more second AP devices. The first AP device can determine the one or more second AP devices, and can send identifying information indicative of the second AP device(s). The first AP device can rely on or otherwise leverage at least the interference information to determine if the AP device can transmit to the station device simultaneously or nearly simultaneously in a defined frequency with downlink transmission(s) from at least one of the second AP device(s).

Description

IDENTIFICATION OF A DEVICE FOR SPATIAL FREQUENCY REUSE

BACKGROUND

[0001] Wireless communication systems that include low-power devices can rely or otherwise leverage a trigger frame to solicit simultaneous uplink (UL) transmission in one basic service set (BSS). The trigger frame can permit station devices solicited by the trigger frame to have time synchronization and frequency synchronization so that the simultaneous UL transmissions do not interfere with each other. As a result, Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) and/or multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) UL transmission can be implemented utilizing trigger frames in order to increase system throughput. Yet, much remains to be improved in the simultaneous downlink (DL) transmission of information in order to increase system throughput.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The accompanying drawings form an integral part of the disclosure and are incorporated into the present specification. The drawings illustrate example embodiments of the disclosure and, in conjunction with the description and claims, serve to explain at least in part various principles, features, or aspects of the disclosure. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various aspects of the disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0003] FIG. 1 presents an example of an operational environment for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0004] FIG. 2 presents another example of an operational environment in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 3 presents yet another example of an operational environment in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 4 presents still another example of an operational environment in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 5A presents an example of a device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 5B presents an example of a radio unit for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. [0009] FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a device for identification of another device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 6B illustrates another example of a device for identification of another device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 7 presents another example of a device in accordance with one or more

embodiments of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 8 presents another example of a device in accordance with one or more

embodiments of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 9 presents an example of a method for identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 10 presents another example of a method for identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The disclosure recognizes and addresses, in at least some embodiments, the issue of identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse in a network of devices that can

communicate wirelessly, where the devices can include one or more devices that operate at low- power. More specifically, in some scenarios, an access point (AP) device can rely on transmissions to a station device (STA) in proximity to the AP device in order to enable the spatial reuse mode. As such, in some aspects, identification of the STA can permit or otherwise facilitate the AP device to implement or otherwise leverage spatial frequency reuse within a group of other AP devices. As such, embodiments of the disclosure provide systems, devices, techniques, and computer program products that can permit or otherwise facilitate identification (e.g., can provide mechanisms to configure or otherwise establish) of a device for spatial frequency reuse in a network of devices that can operate at low-power and can communicate wirelessly.

[0016] As disclosed in greater detail below and the attached drawings, the disclosure provides devices and techniques for identification of a station device for spatial frequency reuse. In some embodiments, the identification of the station device can be based at least on interference information obtained by the station device (or, in some embodiments, other stations devices) and sent to a first AP device. The interference information can be indicative or otherwise representative of respective amounts of interference between the station device and each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) of one or more second AP devices. The first AP device can determine the one or more second AP devices, and can send identifying information indicative of the second AP device(s). The first AP device can rely on or otherwise leverage at least the interference information to determine if the AP device can transmit, in a defined frequency, to the station device simultaneously or nearly simultaneously with DL transmission(s), in the defined frequency, from at least one of the second AP device(s)..

[0017] While various embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in connection with a network that operates according to Wi-Fi protocols, the disclosure is not limited in that respect. As such, embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented in any network of devices that operate according to protocols for wireline communication and/or radio technology protocols for wireless communication. Some embodiments or the disclosure can provide systems, methods, and devices, for signaling information to Wi-Fi devices in various Wi-Fi networks.

[0018] As illustrated and described herein, various embodiments may comprise one or more functional elements. In some embodiments, a functional element may comprise any structure arranged to perform certain operations. Each functional 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.

[0019] With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 presents a block diagram of an example operational environment 100 for wireless communication in accordance with at least certain aspects of the disclosure. The operational environment 100 includes several telecommunication infrastructures and communication devices, which collectively can embody or otherwise constitute a telecommunication environment. More specifically, yet not exclusively, the telecommunication infrastructures can include a satellite system 104. As described herein, the satellite system 104 can be embodied in or can include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS (Globalnaya navigatsionnaya sputnikovaya sistema), BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), and/or the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). In addition, the telecommunication infrastructures can include a macro-cellular or large-cell system; which is represented with three base stations 108a- 108c; a micro-cellular or small-cell system, which is represented with three access points (or low-power base stations) 1 14a-l 14c; and a sensor-based system— which can include proximity sensor(s), beacon device(s), pseudo-stationary device(s), and/or wearable device(s)— represented with functional elements 116a- 116c. As illustrated, in one implementation, each of the transmitter(s), receiver(s), and/or transceiver(s) included in respective computing devices (such as telecommunication infrastructure) can be functionally coupled (e.g., communicatively or otherwise operationally coupled) with the wireless device 1 10a (also referred to as

communication device 110a) via wireless link(s) in accordance with specific radio technology protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 a, IEEE 802.1 lax, etc.) in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. For another example, a base station (e.g., base station 108a) can be functionally coupled to the wireless devices 110a, 1 10b, and 110c via respective an upstream wireless link (UL) and a downstream link (DL) configured in accordance with a radio technology protocol for macro- cellular wireless communication (e.g., 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) or "3G," "3G"; 3 GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), or LTE); LTE Advanced (LTE- A)). For yet another example, an access point (e.g., access point (AP) device 1 14a) can be functionally coupled to one or more of the wireless devices 1 10a, 1 10b, or 1 10c via a respective UL and DL configured in accordance with a radio technology protocol for small-cell wireless communication (e.g., femtocell protocols, Wi-Fi, and the like). For still another example, a beacon device (e.g., device 116a) can be functionally coupled to the wireless device 110a with a UL-only (ULO), a DL-only, or an UL and DL, each of such wireless links (represented with open-head arrows) can be configured in accordance with a radio technology protocol for point-to-point or short-range wireless communication (e.g., ZigBee®, Bluetooth®, or near field communication (NFC) standards, ultrasonic communication protocols, or the like).

[0020] In the operational environment 100, the small-cell system and/or the beacon devices can be contained in a confined area 1 18 that can include an indoor region (e.g., a commercial facility, such as a shopping mall) and/or a spatially-confined outdoor region (such as an open or semi- open parking lot or garage). The small-cell system and/or the beacon devices can provide wireless service to a device (e.g., wireless device 1 10a or 1 10b) within the confined area 118. For instance, the wireless device 1 10a can handover from macro-cellular wireless service to wireless service provided by the small-cell system present within the confined area 1 18.

Similarly, in certain scenarios, the macro-cellular system can provide wireless service to a device (e.g., the wireless device 1 10a) within the confined area 1 18.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the wireless device 110a, as well as other communication devices (wireless or wireline) contemplated in the present disclosure, can include electronic devices having computational resources, including processing resources (e.g., processor(s)), memory resources (memory devices (also referred to as memory), and communication resources for exchange of information within the computing device and/or with other computing devices. Such resources can have different levels of architectural complexity depending on specific device functionality. Exchange of information among computing devices in accordance with aspects of the disclosure can be performed wirelessly as described herein, and thus, in one aspect, the wireless device 110a also can be referred to as wireless communication device 1 10a, wireless computing device 110a, communication device 110a, or computing device 110a interchangeably. The same nomenclature considerations apply to wireless device 110b and wireless device 110c. More generally, in the present disclosure, a communication device can be referred to as a computing device and, in certain instances, the terminology "communication device" can be used interchangeably with the terminology "computing device," unless context clearly dictates that a distinction should be made. In addition, a communication device (e.g., communication device 110a or 110b or 110c) that operates according to HEW can utilize or leverage a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) and related PLCP protocol data units (PPDUs) in order to transmit and/or receive wireless communications. Example of the computing devices that can

communicate wirelessly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure can include desktop computers with wireless communication resources; mobile computers, such as tablet computers, smartphones, notebook computers, laptop computers with wireless communication resources, Ultrabook™ computers; gaming consoles, mobile telephones; blade computers; programmable logic controllers; near field communication devices; customer premises equipment with wireless communication resources, such as set-top boxes, wireless router devices, wireless-enabled television sets, or the like; and so forth. The wireless communication resources can include radio units (which also may be referred to as radios) having circuitry for processing of wireless signals, processor(s), memory device(s), and the like, where the radio, the processor(s), and the memory device(s) can be coupled via a bus architecture.

[0022] The computing devices included in the example operational environment 100, as well as other computing devices contemplated in the present disclosure, can implement or otherwise perform the identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse, as described herein. It is noted that other functional elements (e.g., server devices, router devices, gateway devices, and the like) can be included in the operational environment 100. It is also noted that the identification of a device for spatial reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure can be implemented in any telecommunication environment including an industrial control network, any wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), a home area network (HAN) (such as a sensor-based network) or the like); a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network (either small-cell network or macro-cell network), a wireless WAN (WW AN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wireless PAN (WPAN), a wireless HAN, such as a wireless sensor-based network, a satellite network, or the like); a combination thereof; or the like.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an operational environment 200 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As illustrated, the operational environment 200 includes a group of AP devices including API device 216, AP2 device 226, and AP3 device 236 that can communicate wirelessly, e.g., each of API device 216, AP2 device 226, and AP3 device 236 can send and/or receive information wirelessly. Each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) of the AP devices in such a group of AP devices can provide wireless coverage (e.g., wireless data and/or wireless signaling) to a device within a defined region. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, API device 216, AP2 device 226, and AP3 device 236 can provide, respectively, wireless coverage in a region 210, a region 220, and a region 230. As such, API device 216 can communicate wirelessly with one or more first station devices within the region 210; AP2 device 226 can communicate wirelessly with one or more second station devices within the region 220; and AP3 device 236 can communicate wirelessly with one or more third station devices within the region 230. As described herein, based at least on interference between a station device and an AP device, a communication frequency can be reused (e.g., utilized for wireless communication) across the regions 210, 220, and 230. For instance, two or more of API device 216, AP2 device 226, and AP3 device 236 can communicate wirelessly with respective devices by utilizing a common communication frequency. Specifically, in one example, API device 216 can communicate wirelessly with a STA1 device 212 by utilizing or otherwise leveraging, at least in part, a communication frequency _ ; AP2 device 226 can communicate wirelessly with a STA2 device 223 also by utilizing or otherwise leveraging, at least in part, the communication frequency fi; and AP3 device 236 can communicate wirelessly with STA3 device 232 also by utilizing or otherwise leveraging, at least in part, the communication frequency fi . Such an example frequency reuse configuration is pictorially represented in FIG. 2 with coverage region 218, coverage region 228, and coverage region 238, each region shaded in grey. Also based at least on interference considerations, other devices in the operation environment 200 can communicate with AP device utilizing or otherwise leveraging other communication frequencies, such as fi₂,fii, and To that point, in one example, STA4 device 213 can communicate wirelessly with API device 216 utilizing communication frequency such frequency configuration can be utilized throughout a coverage region 214, pictorially represented with cross-hatching; STA5 device 222 can communicate wirelessly with AP2 device 226 by utilizing communication frequency fs, such a frequency configuration can be utilized throughout a coverage region 224, pictorially represented with right-slanted hatching; and STA6 device 233 can communicate wirelessly with AP3 device 236 by utilizing communication frequency such a frequency configuration can be utilized throughout a coverage region 234, pictorially represented with a stippled area. While an arrangement of regions having the same area and geometry is illustrated, the disclosure is not so limited and spatial frequency reuse of a group of frequencies (e.g., ;, , 5, and 7¾ can be utilized or otherwise leveraged in other arrangements of regions having respective areas and/or geometries.

[0024] As is illustrated in FIG. 3, in embodiments in which interference at STAl device 212 from AP2 device 226 and interference at STA2 device 223 from API device 216 can permit or otherwise facilitate spatial frequency reuse, the API device 216 and the AP2 device 226 can transmit, respectively, information in the DL simultaneously or nearly simultaneously to STAl device 212 and STA2 device 223. To that end, in some embodiments, the API device 216 can access interference information indicative of an amount of interference at STAl device 216 from AP2 device 226. In addition, the API device 216 can apply a rule to the interference information in order to determine if simultaneous or nearly simultaneous respective DL transmissions from API device to STAl device and from AP2 device to STA2 device can be carried out in a defined communication frequency. The rule can include one or more operators. It is noted that the disclosure is not limited to the application of rule(s) to the interference information, and in some embodiments other forms of assessment of the interference information can be implemented.

[0025] As further illustrated in FIG. 3, in response to an assessment of interference information, e.g., application of a rule and fulfillment of the rule, the API device 216 can send a trigger frame 310 to the AP2 device 226. The trigger frame 310 can permit or otherwise facilitate

synchronizing (in time and/or frequency, for example) the API device 216 and the AP2 device 226. In response (e.g., after or upon) the trigger frame 310 being sent to and received by the AP2 device 226, the API device 216 can send, in the DL, a scheduled transmission 320 to the STAl device 212, and the AP2 device 226 can send, in the DL, a scheduled transmission 330 to the STA2 device 223. As illustrated in the timeline diagrams 360, the scheduled transmission 320 and the scheduled transmission 330 can be sent simultaneously or nearly simultaneously, each of such transmissions include data for respective devices. In response to receiving the scheduled transmission 320, the STAl device 212 can send an acknowledgement 340 to the API device 216. Similarly, in response to receiving the scheduled transmission 330, the STA2 device 223 can send an acknowledgement 350 to the AP2 device 226. In some embodiments, leveraging the synchronization provided by the trigger frame 310, the acknowledgement 340 and the acknowledgment 350 can be sent simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. [0026] As mentioned, in order to permit concurrent or nearly concurrent downlink (DL) transmission, a first AP device can identify a STA device for spatial frequency reuse within a group of AP devices. To that end, in some embodiments, the AP device can exchange information with one or more STA devices. A portion of the exchanged information can determine a set of second AP devices for which each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) STA device of the STA device(s) can measure an amount of interference between the STA device and each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) AP device of the group of AP devices. Another portion of the exchanged information can include interference information indicative or otherwise representative of respective amounts of interference between an STA device and each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) AP device of the group of AP devices. The first AP device can rely on or otherwise leverage at least the exchanged information between the first AP device and the STA device to determine if the AP device can transmit to the STA device simultaneously or nearly simultaneously with DL transmission(s) from at least one AP device in the group of AP devices.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram 400 of an example technique that can permit or otherwise can facilitate the identification of a station device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The example technique can include stages implemented by an AP device and other stages implemented by a station device. The stages also can include the communication of information from the AP device to the station device, and communication of other information from the station device to the AP device. The information that is communicated between the AP device and the station device can permit or otherwise facilitate at least some of the respective stages implemented by the AP device and the station device.

[0028] Specifically, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, an AP device 405 can implement a stage 420 at which the AP device 405 can identify a group of AP devices for interference measurement. Each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) AP device of the group of AP devices can have one or more station devices that are associated with the AP device— e.g., the AP device and a station device can be associated with each other after exchanging signaling that configure the AP device and the station device to exchange data or other type of information wirelessly. In one example, with reference to FIG. 2, the AP device 405 can be embodied in the API device 216 and the group of AP devices can include the AP2 device 226 and the AP3 device 236. As mentioned, the AP2 device 226 can be associated with STA2 device 223 and STA5 device 222, and the AP3 device 236 can be associated with the STA3 device 232 and the STA6 device 233. The AP device 405 also can send information 430 representative of the group of AP devices. Such information is represented with the label "AP Group information" in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, an element can be generated to carry the information, and can be referred to as Multi-AP Group element. Such an element can be specific to the techniques for identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. As such, the element can be distinguished over conventional elements utilized for other types of wireless communication. In some embodiments, an element, such as the Multi-AP Group element, can include an element identifier (ID) field embodied in a first set of bits (e.g., 8 bits), the element ID field permits characterizing or otherwise specifying the element as a Multi-AP group element. Elements IDs present in different elements utilized in wireless communication between an AP device and a station device can permit or otherwise facilitate accessing (e.g., decoding) information pertaining to a defined or otherwise intended element when receiving multiple elements in a communication. In addition or in other embodiments, the element (e.g., Multi-AP Group element can include a length field embodied in a second set of bits (e.g., 8 bits) that can specify a number of other bits within the element that carry payload information, such as information indicative of a group of AP devices. As mentioned, the element (e.g., Multi-AP Group element) also includes a third set of bits including the other bits indicative or otherwise representative of information indicative of the group of AP devices. The third set of bits can include a defined number of bits (e.g., 8 bits, 16 bits, 24 bits, 32 bits, 48 bits, 64 bits, 128 bits, 256 bits, 512 bits, 1024 bits, or the like).

[0029] In addition or in other embodiments, the information 430 can be embodied in or can include a list of AP devices included in the group of AP devices. The list of AP devices can be configured or otherwise formatted in numerous ways. Specifically, in one embodiment, the list of AP devices can be formatted or otherwise configured as a partial BSS identifier (BSSID) bitmap, e.g., a bitmap having size x, where bity is set to 1 if BSSID with value in bits [n:m] equal to y-\ is indicated. Here, x, n, and m are integer numbers. For example, the bitmap can have size 64, n can equal 16 and m can equal 21. If bit 1 is set, then BSSID with value in bits [16:21] equal to 0 is indicated. In another embodiment, the list of AP devices can be configured as a BSS color bitmap, e.g., a bitmap having size x, where bity is set to 1 if BSS color of an AP device equal to y-l is indicated. For example, a bitmap can have size 64. If bit 2 is set, then BSS color of an AP device equal to 1 is indicated. In yet another embodiment, the list of AP devices can be configured as a list of BSSIDs (e.g., a list of media access control addresses (MAC addresses)) corresponding to the AP devices. In still another embodiment, the list of AP devices can be configured as a list of BSS colors corresponding to the AP devices. In some aspects, The a BSS color can be embodied in or can include an identifier of a BSS and can be used to permit or otherwise facilitate a receiving station device to identify the BSS from which a PPDU originates. Thus, in some aspects, the station device can use channel access rules and/or reduce power consumption.

[0030] The station device 410 can receive the information 430. In response, the station device 410 can implement a stage 440 in which the station device 410 can obtain (e.g., receive, measure, or the like) interference information for at least one (e.g., one, two, more than two, each) of the AP devices in the group of AP devices. Interference information can be embodied in or can include various metrics (e.g., received signal strength indicator (RSSI)) indicative or otherwise representative of an amount of interference between the station device 410 and an AP device of the group of AP devices. The station device 410 can obtain the interference information in numerous ways. Specifically, in one embodiment, for each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) AP device in the group of AP devices indicated by the AP Group information 430, the station device 410 can record or otherwise determine an amount of interference of a

corresponding beacon sent from the AP device. To that, in one implementation, the station device 410 can determine that the beacon corresponds to the AP device by checking (1) a BSSID and/or BSS color as indicated in the beacon, or (2) the BSSID in a transmitter address (TA) field of a frame associated with the beacon. In addition or in other implementations, the interference of an AP device of the group of AP device can be indicated or otherwise represented by the RSSI of the received frame.

[0031] In addition or in another embodiment, for each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) AP device in the group of AP devices indicated by the AP Group information 430, the station device 410 can record or otherwise determine the highest interference of any type of frame received from the AP device. To that, in one implementation, the station device 410 can determine that a frame corresponds or is otherwise received from the AP device by checking a BSSID in a TA field of the frame. In addition or in another implementation, the station device 410 can determine that the frame corresponds or is otherwise received from the AP device by checking the BSS color and/or DL indication in the preamble. The DL indication specifies or otherwise conveys that the transmission is from AP device by identifying the AP device, for example. In addition or in other implementations, the interference of an AP device for a frame received from the AP device can be indicated or otherwise represented by the RSSI of such a frame.

[0032] Further or in yet another embodiment, for a frame received from an AP device of the group of AP devices, the station device 410 can adjust the interference that is recorded or otherwise determined for such a frame based at least on a received bandwidth of the frame and the bandwidth that is utilized by the AP for transmission of the frame. For instance, if the recorded RSSI is for a transmission of 20 MHz frame (e.g., frame carried non-HT PPDU) and the AP device utilizes 80 MHz for transmission, then the station device 410 can adjust the recorded interference by multiplying the RSSI by (80 MHz/20 MHz) = 4 and/or by adding 10*logl0(80 MHz/20 MHz) = 10*logl0(4) = 6 dB if the unit of the interference is dB or dBm. In some scenarios, the AP device can convey the bandwidth for a beacon frame transmission on the payload of the beacon. The information indicative or otherwise representative of the bandwidth can be carried in the element (e.g., Multi-AP Group element. In one example, the element can be embodied in or can include a Multi-AP Group element in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. In another example, the element can be embodied in or can include an existing element in accordance with a protocol of the Wi-Fi family of protocols. In addition or in other scenarios, the AP device can convey a numeric factor that the station device 410 can utilize or otherwise leverage to adjust for the interference record being based on 20 MHz measurement, not on the bandwidth utilized for transmission by the AP device.

[0033] The station device 410 can implement a stage 450 at which the station device 410 can retain at least a portion of the interference information obtained at the stage 440. For instance, values of RSSI for frames received from at least one of the AP devices in the group of AP devices can be retained in a memory device of the station device 410.

[0034] The station device 410 can report or otherwise convey at least a portion of the

interference information for the AP device(s) in the group of AP device to the AP device 405. The station device 410 can report such interference information in numerous ways. In particular, in one embodiment, the station device 410 can send a report by means of an A-Control field (e.g., a Multi-AP report). In addition or in another embodiment, the station device 410 can send a report by means of an Event request and report procedures (e.g., Multi-AP event request and report). More specifically, the event request can be conveyed or otherwise carried in an event request element, and the event report can be conveyed or otherwise carried in an event report element. In one aspect, an event type in event request and report element can be defined for the Multi-AP event request. In another aspect, a sub-element for Multi-AP event request and report can be defined.

[0035] Further or in yet another embodiment, the station device 410 can convey, within the interference information 460, an amount of interference for each (or, in some instances, at least one) AP device of the group of AP devices indicated by the AP device 405. Further or in still another embodiment, the station device 410 can convey, within the interference information 460, a sum of interference for all or a sub-group of the group of AP devices indicated by the AP device 405. In addition or in other embodiments, the station device 410 can convey, within the interference information 460, a null interference for an AP device of the group of AP devices in response to determining that the station device 410 has not received a frame from the AP to determine or otherwise record interference. Further or in still other embodiments, the station device 410 can convey, within the interference information 460, transmission power. The AP device 405 can estimate pathloss based at least on the transmission power of the station device 410 and the received interference of the event report. More specifically, in some embodiments, the AP device 405 can receive the transmission from the station device 410 with signal strength q dB (with q an integer number, for example) and indicated transmission power p dB (with p an integer number). The AP device 405 can estimate a pathloss Π between the AP device 405 and the station device 410 as n = (p— q) dB. Based at least on the estimated pathloss Π, the AP device 405 can estimate the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), which ratio can be SINR = (p— U— I) dB, where l is indicative of the interference reported by the station device 405 for an AP device in the group of AP devices.

[0036] As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the AP device 405 can implement a stage 470 at which the AP device 405 can utilize at least the interference information 460 to determine if transmission to the station device 410 simultaneously with DL transmission from other AP device(s) in the group of AP devices can be performed. To that end, in some embodiments, the AP device 405 can apply one or more rules to the interference information 460. More specifically, in one embodiment, a rule can be embodied in or can include a comparison between a sum of the amounts of interference reported by the station device 420 and a defined threshold amount, and a determination outcome based on an outcome of the comparison. For example, the comparison can be embodied in the less than operator, and spatial frequency reuse can be implemented if the sum of the amounts of interference reported by the station device 420 is less than the defined threshold amount. The defined threshold amount can be defined, for instance, as a reference amount plus a defined offset amount (also referred to as a margin amount). The defined offset amount can permit accounting for (or otherwise considering in the application of the rule) potential interference from one or more transmitter devices (e.g., an AP device) not included in the group of AP devices.

[0037] In another embodiment, a rule can be embodied in or can include a comparison between a sum of the amounts of interference for neighbor AP devices in the group of AP devices that are scheduled by a Trigger frame to transmit simultaneously in the DL and the defined threshold amount. For instance, the comparison can be embodied in the less than operator, and spatial frequency reuse can be implemented if the sum of the amounts of interference for the neighbor AP devices in the group of AP devices that are scheduled by the Trigger frame to transmit simultaneously in the DL is less than the defined threshold amount. The defined threshold amount can be defined, for instance, as a reference amount plus a defined offset amount (also referred to as a margin amount).

[0038] In yet another embodiment, spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure can be implemented if the signal (S) to interference (I) plus noise ratio (SINR) to the station 410 can enable a feasible modulation coding scheme (MCS) transmission. Here, S can be calculated based at least on the transmission power of the AP device considered pathloss and / can be calculated based at least on a sum of respective amounts of interference of neighboring AP devices in the group of AP devices from the station device 410 plus a defined offset amount (or margin). In one example, SINR can be equal to σ dB, then the AP device 405 can search for the MCS that can provide the highest data rate (or another satisfactory data rate) with 10% estimated error rate, for example, under the calculated SINR result for the transmission to the station device 410. In the example, S can be the estimated received signal strength at the station device 410, where S can be equal to the transmission power of AP device 405 minus an estimated pathloss, in units of dB or dBm. Further, in the example, all the neighboring AP devices in the group of AP devices can scheduled for transmission, / can be equal to the sum of the interference from those neighboring AP devices to the station device 410. As mentioned, the station device 410 has reported the interference from neighboring AP devices to the AP device 405 (or, in some embodiments, to another AP device).

[0039] In yet another embodiment, spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure can be implemented if the SINR to the STA can enable a feasible MCS transmission. Here, S can be calculated based at least on the transmission power of the AP device 405 considered pathloss, and / is calculated based on a sum of respective amounts of interference for neighboring AP devices in the group of AP devices— that are scheduled by a trigger frame to transmit simultaneously— from the station device 410 plus a defined offset amount (or margin). In one example, SINR can be equal to σ dB, then the AP device 405 can search for the MCS that can provide the highest data rate (or another satisfactory data rate) with 10% estimated error rate, for example, under the calculated SINR result for the transmission to the station device 410. In the example, S can be the estimated received signal strength at the station device 410, where S can be equal to the transmission power of AP device 405 minus an estimated pathloss, in units of dB or dBm. Further, in the example, all the neighboring AP devices in the group of AP devices can scheduled for transmission, / can be equal to the sum of the interference from those neighboring AP devices to the station device 410. As mentioned, the station device 410 has reported the interference from neighboring AP devices to the AP device 405 (or, in some embodiments, to another AP device). In some scenarios, the AP device 405 (e.g., API device in FIG. 3) can adjust the interference (reported by the station device 410, for example) of a neighbor AP device (e.g., AP2 device in FIG. 3) scheduled by a trigger frame based at least on a bandwidth Δ that is allocated in the trigger frame for spatial frequency reuse. Specifically, in one example, if API device and AP2 device are scheduled by the trigger frame to implement spatial frequency reuse with bandwidth Δ, and AP2 device is scheduled by the trigger frame to transmit with bandwidth δ, then the API device can adjust the interference of AP2 reported by the station device 410 by multiplying the interference by a factor (Δ/δ) and/or by adding 10*loglO(A/5) if the unit of the interference is dB or dBm.

[0040] FIG. 5A illustrates a block diagram of an example embodiment of a device 510 for identification of another device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The exemplified device 510 can operate in accordance with at least some aspects of the disclosure, identifying or permitting to identify one or more devices for spatial frequency reuse as described herein, for example. As mentioned, in some embodiments, the device 510 can embody or can constitute any one of the devices for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. In yet other embodiments, the device 510 can embody or can constitute the AP device 310 or any of the devices in the operational environment 100 shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the device 510 can provide one or more specific functionalities— such as operating as a digital camera and generating digital images (e.g., static pictures and/or motion pictures); operating as a navigation device; operating as a biometric device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a pressure monitor, a glucometer, an iris analyzer, a fingerprint analyzer, etc.); dosing and delivering an amount of a drug or other compound; operating as a sensor and sensing a defined physical quantity, such as temperature and/or pressure, or motion; operating as another sensor and sensing a compound in gas phase or liquid phase; operating as a controller for configuring a second defined physical quantity, managing energy, managing access to an environment, managing illumination and/or sound, regulating a defined process, such an automation control process, or the like; generating current, voltage, or other type of signal via inductive coils; a combination of the foregoing; a derivative functionality of the foregoing; or the like. To that end, the device 510 can include one or more functionality units 522 (referred to as dedicated functionality unit 522) that can include optical elements (e.g., lenses, collimators, light guides, light sources, light detectors (such as semiconductor-based light detectors), focusing circuitry, etc.); temperature sensors; pressure sensors; gas sensors; motion sensors, including inertial sensors (such as linear accelerator and/or a gyroscope); mechanical actuators (such as locks, valves, and the like); a combination of the foregoing; or the like.

[0041] In addition or in other aspects, a specific functionality of the device 510 can be provided or otherwise implemented via one or more processors 524. In some implementations, at least one of the processor(s) 524 can be integrated with dedicated functionality unit 522. In some implementations, at least one of the processor(s) (e.g., one or more of the processor(s) 524 or other processor(s)) can receive and operate on data and/or other type of information (e.g., analog signals) generated by components of the dedicated functionality unit 522. The at least one processor can execute a module in order to operate on the data and/or other type of information and, as a result, provide a defined functionality. The module can be embodied in or can include, for example, a software application stored in a memory device integrated into or functionally coupled to the device. For instance, the module can be retained in one or more memory devices 532 (collectively referred to as dedicated functionality storage 532), where the dedicated functionality storage 532 can be retained within one or more other memory devices 530

(collectively referred to as memory 530). In addition or in other implementations, at least a second one of the processor(s) (e.g., one or more of processor(s) 524 or other processor(s) available to the dedicated functionality unit 522) can control the operation or duty cycle of a portion of the dedicated functionality unit 522 so as to collect data and/or other type of information; provide an amount (or a dose) of a compound or acquire another amount of another compound or material; a combination of the foregoing; or the like. At least one of the units that constitute the dedicated functionality unit 522 can generate control signals (e.g., interruptions, alarms, or the like) and/or can cause the device 510 to transition between operational states in response to a defined condition of the device 510 or its environment. At least some of the control signals can be sent to an external device (not depicted in FIG. 5A) via an I/O interface of the I/O interfaces 520. The type and/or number of components included in the dedicated functionality unit 522 can establish, at least in part, the complexity of the device 510. In some examples, the device 510 can embody or can constitute an AP device (e.g., AP device 405), and in other examples, the device 510 can embody or can constitute a station device (e.g., station device 410) or another type of mobile device.

[0042] The device 510 also can operate as a wireless device and can embody or can constitute an access point device, a mobile computing device (e.g., a station device or user equipment), or other types of communication devices that can transmit and/or receive wireless communications in accordance with this disclosure. In some aspects, to permit wireless operation— including the exchange of information associated with configuration of a data path group, as described herein— the device 510 includes a radio unit 514, a communication unit 526, and a device identification unit 528. In some implementations, the communication unit 526 can generate packets and/or other types of information blocks via a network stack, for example, and can convey the packets and/or the other types of information blocks to the radio unit 514 for wireless communication. In one embodiment, the network stack (not shown) can be embodied in or can constitute a library or other types of programming modules, and the communication unit 526 can execute the network stack in order to generate a packet or other types of information block. Generation of the packet or the other types of information blocks can include, for example, generation of control information (e.g., checksum data, communication address(es)), traffic information (e.g., payload data), and/or formatting of such information into a specific packet header.

[0043] The device identification unit 528 can perform or otherwise facilitate, at least in part, the identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure, as described herein. To that end, in some embodiments, the device identification unit 528 can include a number of components that can utilize or otherwise leverage first information (e.g., data, metadata, and/or instructions) that identifies a group of AP devices for interference measurement; second information indicative or otherwise representative of respective amount(s) of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and third information that defines or otherwise specify one or more rules or criteria to identify the device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In some instances, the first information and the second information can be retained in one or more memory elements 534 (collectively referred to as device identification information 534) within one or more memory devices 530 (collectively referred to as memory 530). In addition or in other implementations, the first information and/or the second information can be retained within one or more other memory devices integrated into the data link configuration unit 528. The device identification unit 528 also can utilize or otherwise leverage, in other embodiments, the communication unit 526 in order to identify or permit identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with aspects of this disclosure, as described herein. In some embodiments, the device identification unit 528 can be embodied in or can include one or more processors. As such, the components included in the device identification unit 528 can constitute the one or more processor(s). As discussed herein, the device identification unit 528 can be functionally coupled to the memory 530. Thus, in some aspects, the one or more processors that can embody or can constitute the device identification unit 528 also can be functionally coupled to the memory 530. [0044] As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the device identification information 534 can include, for example, access point device information 536 that can be utilized or otherwise leveraged in the identification of a group of AP for interference measurements. For example, the access point device information 536 can include AP identifiers of each one of the group of AP devices. Such identifier(s) can be collected from historical pilot signals received at the device 510. In addition or in another example, the identifier(s) can be configured during or after provisioning (or, in some embodiments, activating) the device 510.

[0045] As further illustrated in FIG. 5A, the device identification information 534 can include interference information 540. In some embodiments, at least a portion of interference information 540 can be indicative or otherwise representative of respective amount(s) of interference for at least one AP device in a group of AP devices defined or otherwise identified in the access point device information 538. In some embodiments, the interference information 540 can include one or more interference metrics (e.g., RSSIs) associated with respective AP devices.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the radio unit 514 can include one or more antennas 516 and a multi-mode communication processing unit 518. In some embodiments, the antenna(s) 516 can be embodied in or can include directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In addition, or in other embodiments, at least some of the antenna(s) 516 can be physically separated to leverage spatial diversity and related different channel characteristics associated with such diversity. Further or in yet other embodiments, the multi-mode communication processing unit 518 that can process at least wireless signals in accordance with one or more radio technology protocols and/or modes (such as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), single-input-multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input- single-output (MISO), and the like). Each of such protocol(s) can be configured to communicate (e.g., transmit, receive, or exchange) data, metadata, and/or signaling over a specific air interface. The one or more radio technology protocols can include, for example, 3 GPP UMTS; LTE; LTE- A; Wi-Fi protocols, such as those of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards; Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX); radio technologies and related protocols for ad hoc networks, such as Bluetooth® or ZigBee®; other protocols for packetized wireless communication; or the like). The multi-mode communication processing unit 418 also can process non-wireless signals (analogic, digital, a combination thereof, or the like).

[0047] In some embodiments, e.g., example embodiment 550 shown in FIG. 5B, the multi-mode communication processing unit 518 can comprise a set of one or more transmitters/receivers 554, and components therein (amplifiers, filters, analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, etc.), functionally coupled to a multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) unit 568, a modulator/demodulator (mod/demod) unit 566 (also referred to as modem 516), and a coder/decoder unit 512 (also referred to as codec 512). Each (or, in some instances, at least one) of the

transmitter(s)/receiver(s) can form respective transceiver(s) that can transmit and receive wireless signal (e.g., electromagnetic radiation) via the one or more antennas 516. It is noted that in other embodiments, the multi-mode communication processing unit 518 can include, for example, other functional elements, such as one or more control units (e.g., a memory controller), an offload engine or unit, I/O interfaces, baseband processing circuitry, a combination of the foregoing, or the like. While illustrated as separate blocks in the device 510, it is noted that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the multi-mode communication processing unit 518, the communication unit 526, and/or the device identification unit 528 can be integrated into a single unit— e.g., a single chipset or other type of solid state circuitry. In some aspects, such a single unit can be configured by programmed instructions retained in memory 530 and/or other memory devices integrated into or otherwise functionally coupled to the single unit.

[0048] Electronic components and associated circuitry, such as mux/demux unit 558, codec 562, and modem 566 can permit or otherwise facilitate processing and manipulation, e.g.,

coding/decoding, deciphering, and/or modulation/demodulation, of signal(s) received by the device 510 and signal(s) to be transmitted by the device 510. In some aspects, as described herein, received and transmitted wireless signals can be modulated and/or coded, or otherwise processed, in accordance with one or more radio technology protocols. Such radio technology protocol(s) can include, for example, 3GPP UMTS; 3GPP LTE; LTE-A; Wi-Fi protocols, such as IEEE 802.11 family of standards (IEEE 802.ac, IEEE 802.ax, and the like); IEEE 802.15.4; WiMAX; radio technologies and related protocols for ad hoc networks, such as Bluetooth® or ZigBee®; other protocols for packetized wireless communication; or the like.

[0049] The electronic components in the multi-mode communication processing unit 518, including the one or more transmitters/receivers 554, can exchange information (e.g., data, metadata, code instructions, signaling and related payload data, combinations thereof, or the like) through a bus 564, which can embody or can include at least one of a system bus, an address bus, a data bus, a message bus, a reference link or interface, a combination of the foregoing, or the like. Each (or, in some embodiments, at least one) of the one or more receivers/transmitters 554 can convert signal from analog to digital and vice versa. In addition or in the alternative, the receiver(s)/transmitter(s) 554 can divide a single data stream into multiple parallel data streams, or perform the reciprocal operation. Such operations may be conducted as part of various multiplexing schemes. As illustrated, the mux/demux unit 558 is functionally coupled to the one or more receivers/transmitters 554 and can permit processing of signals in time and frequency domain. In some aspects, the mux/demux unit 558 can multiplex and demultiplex information (e.g., data, metadata, and/or signaling) according to various multiplexing schemes such as time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), space division multiplexing (SDM). In addition or in the alternative, in another aspect, the mux/demux unit 558 can scramble and spread information (e.g., codes) according to most any code, such as Hadamard-Walsh codes, Baker codes, Kasami codes, polyphase codes, and the like. The modem 566 can modulate and demodulate information (e.g., data, metadata, signaling, or a combination thereof) according to various modulation techniques, such as frequency modulation (e.g., frequency-shift keying), amplitude modulation (e.g., M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), with M a positive integer; amplitude-shift keying (ASK)), phase-shift keying (PSK), and the like). In addition, processor(s) that can be included in the device 510— e.g., processor(s) 524, or baseband processing circuitry or other type of computing circuitry included in the radio unit 514 or other functional element(s) of the device 510— can permit processing data (e.g., symbols, bits, or chips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing, modulation/demodulation (such as implementing direct and inverse fast Fourier transforms) selection of modulation rates, selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times, and the like.

[0050] The codec 562 can operate on information (e.g., data, metadata, signaling, or a combination thereof) in accordance with one or more coding/decoding schemes suitable for communication, at least in part, through the one or more transceivers formed from respective transmitter(s)/receiver(s) 554. In one aspect, such coding/decoding schemes, or related procedure(s), can be retained as computer-accessible instructions (computer-readable instructions, computer-executable instructions, or a combination thereof) in one or more memory devices 534 (collectively referred to as memory 434) and/or other memory device integrated into or otherwise functionally coupled to the radio unit 514. In a scenario in which wireless communication among the device 510 and another computing device (e.g., a station device, other types of user equipment, or customer premises equipment) utilizes MIMO, MISO, SIMO, or SISO operation, the codec 562 can implement at least one of space-time block coding (STBC) and associated decoding, or space-frequency block (SFBC) coding and associated decoding. In addition or in other scenarios, the codec 562 can extract information from data streams coded in accordance with spatial multiplexing scheme. In some aspects, to decode received information (e.g., data, metadata, signaling, or a combination thereof), the codec 562 can implement at least one of computation of log-likelihood ratios (LLR) associated with constellation realization for a specific demodulation; maximal ratio combining (MRC) filtering, maximum-likelihood (ML) detection, successive interference cancellation (SIC) detection, zero forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error estimation (MMSE) detection, or the like. The codec 562 can utilize, at least in part, mux/demux unit 558 and mod/demod unit 566 to operate in accordance with aspects described herein.

[0051] With further reference to FIG. 5A, the device 510 can operate in a variety of wireless environments having wireless signals conveyed in different electromagnetic radiation (EM) frequency bands. To at least such end, the multi-mode communication processing unit 518 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure can process (code, decode, format, etc.) wireless signals within a set of one or more EM frequency bands (also referred to as frequency bands) comprising one or more of radio frequency (RF) portions of the EM spectrum, microwave portion(s) of the EM spectrum, or infrared (IR) portion(s) of the EM spectrum. In one aspect, the set of one or more frequency bands can include, for example, at least one of (i) all or most licensed EM frequency bands, (such as the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, including the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz bands); or (ii) all or most unlicensed frequency bands (such as the 60 GHz band) currently available for telecommunication.

[0052] As described herein, the device 510 can receive and/or transmit information encoded and/or modulated or otherwise processed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. To at least such an end, in some embodiments, the device 510 can acquire or otherwise access information wirelessly via the radio unit 514 (which also may be referred to as radio 514), where at least a portion of such information can be encoded and/or modulated in accordance with aspects described herein. Therefore, in some implementations, the memory 530 also can contain one or more memory elements having information suitable for processing information received according to a predetermined communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11 ac, IEEE 802.11 ax, IEEE 802.15.4). While not shown, in some embodiments, one or more memory elements (e.g., registers, filed, databases, combinations thereof, or the like) of the memory 434 can include, for example, computer-accessible instructions that can be executed by one or more of the functional elements (units, components, circuitry, etc.) of the device 510 in order to implement at least some of the functionality for identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse in a wireless network, in accordance with aspects described herein. One or more groups of such computer- accessible instructions can embody or can constitute a programming interface that can permit communication of information (e.g., data, metadata, and/or signaling) between functional elements of the device 510 for implementation of such functionality. [0053] As further illustrated in FIG. 5A, the device 510 can include one or more I/O interfaces 520. At least one of the I/O interface(s) 520 can permit the exchange of information between the device 510 and another computing device and/or a storage device. Such an exchange can be wireless (e.g., via near field communication or optically-switched communication) or wireline. At least another one of the I/O interface(s) 520 can permit presenting information visually, aurally, and/or via movement to an end-user of the device 510. In one example, a haptic device can embody the I/O interface of the I/O interface(s) 520 that permit conveying information via movement. In addition, in the illustrated device 510, a bus architecture 542 (which also may be referred to as bus 542) can permit the exchange of information (e.g., data, metadata, and/or signaling) between two or more functional elements of the device 510. For instance, the bus 542 can permit exchange of information between two or more of (i) the radio unit 514 or a functional element therein, (ii) at least one of the I/O interface(s) 520, (iii) the communication unit 526, or (iv) the memory 534. In addition, one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) (not depicted in FIG. 5A) or other types of programming interfaces that can permit exchange of information (e.g., data and/or metadata) between two or more of the functional elements of the device 510. At least one of such API(s) can be retained or otherwise stored in the memory 534. In some embodiments, it is noted that at least one of the API(s) or other programming interfaces can permit the exchange of information within components of the communication unit 526. The bus 542 also can permit a similar exchange of information. In some embodiments, the bus 552 can embody or can include, for example, at least one of a system bus, an address bus, a data bus, a message bus, a reference link or interface, a combination thereof, or the like. In addition or in other embodiments, the bus 552 can include, for example, components for wireline and wireless communication.

[0054] It is noted that portions of the device 510 can embody or can constitute an apparatus. For instance, the multi-mode communication processing unit 518, the communication unit 526, the device identification unit 528, and at least a portion of the memory device 530 can embody or can constitute an apparatus that can operate in accordance with one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 6A illustrates a block diagram of an example of a device for identification of another device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As illustrated, several components can constitute the device identification unit 528 shown in FIG. 5A and disclosed herein. More specifically, the device identification unit 528 can be included in an AP device (e.g., API device 216, AP2 device 226, AP3 device 236, or AP device 405), and can include an AP device identification component 610, an interference information collection component 620, and a frequency reuse assessment component 630. In one embodiment, each of the AP device identification component 610, the interference information collection component 620, and the frequency reuse assessment component 630 can be embodied in or can include circuitry (e.g., processing devices, storage devices, and the like) to perform the functions described herein. In another embodiment, the AP device identification component 610, the interference information collection component 620, and the frequency reuse assessment component 630 can be embodied in computer-accessible (e.g., computer-executable and/or computer-readable) instructions retained in one or more memory devices, where the one or more processors 524 can execute the instructions to perform the functions described herein.

[0056] The AP device identification component 610 can identify a group of AP devices for interference measurement. To that end, in one embodiment, respective identifiers of each one of the group of AP devices can be retained in the access point device information 538. In some scenarios, such identifier(s) can be collected from historical pilot signals received at an AP device including the AP device identification component 610. In other scenarios, the identifier(s) can be configured during or after provisioning (or, in some embodiments, activating) the AP device.

[0057] For a group of AP devices identified by the AP device identification component 610, the AP device identification component 610 can generate first information indicative or otherwise representative of the group of AP devices. As mentioned, the first information can be indicative or otherwise representative of a list of AP devices included in the group of AP devices. In some embodiments, to generate the first information, the AP device identification component 610 can generation a partial BSSID bitmap and/or a BSS color bitmap.

[0058] The AP device identification component 610 can provide or otherwise make available the first information for transmission to a remote device (e.g., STA1 device 212, STA2 device 223, or station device 410). As such, in some embodiments, the AP device identification component 610 can send the information to the communication unit 526, which can process the information and can send the processed information to the radio unit 514. The radio unit 514 can send at least a portion of the first information to the remote device.

[0059] In response to sending the first information, the interference information collection component 620 can receive second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for one or more of the AP devices of the group of AP devices identified by the AP device identification component 610. The frequency reuse assessment component 630 can determine, using at least the second information, if transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from an AP device of the group of AP devices is feasible. To that end, as mentioned, the interference information collection component 620 can apply one or more rules to the second information. The one or more rules can be retained within the identification rule(s) 542. For second information that satisfies the rule(s), the frequency reuse assessment component 630 can determine that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from an AP device of the group of AP devices is feasible. In contrast, for second information that does not satisfy the rule(s), the frequency reuse assessment component 630 can determine that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from an AP device of the group of AP devices is not feasible. As such, in some aspects, by applying one or more rules, the frequency reuse assessment component 630 can identify a station device for spatial frequency reuse as described herein.

[0060] FIG. 6B illustrates a block diagram of an example of a device for identification of another device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As illustrated, several components can constitute the device identification unit 528 shown in FIG. 5A and disclosed herein. More specifically, the device identification unit 528 can be included in a station device (e.g., STA1 device 212, STA2 device 223, or station device 410), and can include an AP device identification component 650 and an interference collection component 620. In one embodiment, each of the AP device identification component 650 and the interference collection component 620 can be embodied in or can include circuitry (e.g., processing devices, storage devices, and the like) to perform the functions described herein. In another embodiment, the AP device identification component 650 and the interference collection component 620 can be embodied in computer-accessible (e.g., computer-executable and/or computer-readable) instructions retained in one or more memory devices, where the one or more processors 524 can execute the instructions to perform the functions described herein.

[0061] In some embodiments, the AP device identification component 650 can receive first information indicative of a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement. To that end, in one embodiment, the AP device identification component 650 can receive the first information from the radio unit 514. In another embodiment, the AP device identification component 650 can receive the first information from the communication unit 526. In yet another embodiment, the radio unit 514 can receive the first information wirelessly and can send the first information to the communication unit 526. The communication unit 526 can process and/or send the first information to the AP device identification component 650. Further or in some embodiments, receiving the first information can include decoding the first information by the AP device identification component 650 to determine a list of AP devices included in the group of AP devices. As described herein, at least a portion of the first information can be retained or otherwise stored within access point device information 538.

[0062] The interference collection component 660 can receive pilot signals and can process the pilot signals to determine one or more interference metrics. To that, in one embodiment, the radio unit 514 can receive the pilot signals wirelessly, and can send the pilot signals to the communication unit 526. The communication unit can process the information to format the information according to a defined standard, and can send the processed information to the interference collection component 660. In one aspect, the interference collection component 660 can determine, using at least the processed information, the one or more interference metrics.

[0063] The interference collection component 660 also can determine the source of the pilot signals (e.g., one or more AP devices). Therefore, in some aspects, the interference collection component 660 can associate the one or more interference metrics (e.g., RSSIs) to respective AP devices that are sources of the pilot signals. Each of the one or more interference metrics can represent respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices. Thus, in some aspects, the interference collection component 660 can determine the respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices.

[0064] The interference collection component 660 can provide or otherwise make available information indicative of the respective amounts of interference for transmission to a remote device (e.g., AP device). As such, in some embodiments, the interference collection component 660 can send the information to the communication unit 526, which can process the information and can send the processed information to the radio unit 514. The radio unit 514 can send at least a portion of the information indicative of the respective amounts of interference to the remote device.

[0065] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a communications device 700 that may implement one or more of wireless communication devices 405 and 410, the device 510, and the like. In various embodiments, device 700 may comprise a logic circuit 1028. The logic circuit 1028 may include physical circuits to perform operations described for one or more of wireless

communication devices 405, 410, and 510, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, device 700 may include a radio interface 710, baseband circuitry 720, and computing platform 730, although the embodiments are not limited to this configuration.

[0066] The device 700 may implement some or all of the structure and/or operations for one or more of wireless communication devices 405, 410, and 510, and logic circuit 728 in a single computing entity, such as entirely within a single device. Alternatively, the device 700 may distribute portions of the structure and/or operations for one or more of wireless communication devices 405, 410, and 510, and logic circuit 728 across multiple computing entities using a distributed system architecture, such as a client-server architecture, a 3-tier architecture, an N-tier architecture, a tightly-coupled or clustered architecture, a peer-to-peer architecture, a master- slave architecture, a shared database architecture, and other types of distributed systems. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

[0067] In one embodiment, radio interface 710 may include a component or combination of components adapted for transmitting and/or receiving single-carrier or multi-carrier modulated signals (e.g., including complementary code keying (CCK), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and/or single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols) although the embodiments are not limited to any specific over-the-air interface or modulation scheme. Radio interface 710 may include, for example, a receiver 712, a frequency synthesizer 714, and/or a transmitter 716. Radio interface 710 may include bias controls, a crystal oscillator and/or one or more antennas 718. In another embodiment, radio interface 710 may use external voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), surface acoustic wave filters, intermediate frequency (IF) filters and/or RF filters, as desired. Due to the variety of potential RF interface designs an expansive description thereof is omitted.

[0068] Baseband circuitry 720 may communicate with radio interface 710 to process receive and/or transmit signals and may include, for example, an analog-to-digital converter 722 for down converting received signals, a digital-to-analog converter 724 for up converting signals for transmission. Further, baseband circuitry 720 may include a baseband or physical layer (PHY) processing circuit 726 for PHY link layer processing of respective receive/transmit signals. Baseband circuitry 720 may include, for example, a medium access control (MAC) processing circuit 727 for MAC/data link layer processing. Baseband circuitry 720 may include a memory controller 732 for communicating with MAC processing circuit 727 and/or a computing platform 730, for example, via one or more interfaces 734.

[0069] In some embodiments, PHY processing circuit 726 may include device identification component(s), in combination with additional circuitry such as a buffer memory, to construct and/or deconstruct communication frames. In an embodiment in which the device 700 embodies or constitutes an AP device, the device identification component(s) can include, for example, AP device identification component 610, interference information collection component 620, frequency reuse assessment component 630. In another example, in an embodiment in which the device 700 embodies or constitutes a station device, the device identification component(s) can include an AP device identification component 650 and an interference collection component

660. Alternatively or in addition, MAC processing circuit 727 may share processing for certain of these functions or perform these processes independent of PHY processing circuit 726. To that point, in some instances, the MAC processing circuitry 727 can include device identification component(s) 721. In an embodiment in which the device 700 embodies or constitutes an AP device, the device identification component(s) can include, for example, AP device identification component 610, interference information collection component 620, and frequency reuse assessment component 630. In another example, in an embodiment in which the device 700 embodies or constitutes a station device, the device identification component(s) can include an AP device identification component 650 and an interference collection component 660. In some embodiments, MAC and PHY processing may be integrated into a single circuit.

[0070] The computing platform 730 may provide computing functionality for the device 700. As shown, the computing platform 730 may include a processing component 740. In addition to, or alternatively of, the baseband circuitry 720, the device 700 may execute processing operations or logic for one or more of wireless communication devices 405, 410, and 510, and logic circuit 728 using the processing component 740. The processing component 740 (and/or PHY 726 and/or MAC 727) may comprise various hardware elements, software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements may include devices, logic devices, components, processors, microprocessors, circuits, processor 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), memory units, logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software elements may include software components, programs, applications, computer programs, application programs, system programs, software development 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, as desired for a given implementation.

[0071] The computing platform 730 may further include other platform components 750. Other platform components 750 include common computing elements, such as one or more processors, multi-core processors, co-processors, memory units, chipsets, controllers, peripherals, interfaces, oscillators, timing devices, video cards, audio cards, multimedia input/output (I/O) components (e.g., digital displays), power supplies, and so forth. Examples of memory units may include without limitation various types of computer readable and machine readable storage media in the form of one or more higher speed memory units, such as 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, an array of devices such as Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) drives, solid state memory devices (e.g., USB memory, solid state drives (SSD) and any other type of storage media suitable for storing information.

[0072] Device 700 may be, for example, an ultra-mobile device, a mobile device, a fixed device, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile computing device, a smart phone, a telephone, a digital telephone, a cellular telephone, user equipment, eBook readers, a handset, a one-way pager, a two-way pager, a messaging device, a computer, a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a netbook computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a server, a server array or server farm, a web server, a network server, an Internet server, a work station, a mini-computer, a main frame computer, a supercomputer, a network appliance, a web appliance, a distributed computing system, multiprocessor systems, processor-based systems, consumer electronics, programmable consumer electronics, game devices, display, television, digital television, set top box, wireless access point, base station, node B, subscriber station, mobile subscriber center, radio network controller, router, hub, gateway, bridge, switch, machine, or combination thereof. Accordingly, functions and/or specific configurations of device 700 described herein, may be included or omitted in various embodiments of device 700, as suitably desired.

[0073] Embodiments of device 700 may be implemented using single input single output (SISO) architectures. However, certain implementations may include multiple antennas (e.g., antennas

718) for transmission and/or reception using adaptive antenna techniques for beamforming or spatial division multiple access (SDMA) and/or using MIMO communication techniques.

[0074] The components and elements of device 700 may be implemented using any combination of discrete circuitry, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), logic gates and/or single chip architectures. Further, the elements of device 700 may be implemented using

microcontrollers, programmable logic arrays and/or microprocessors or any combination of the foregoing where suitably appropriate. It is noted that hardware, firmware and/or software elements may be collectively or individually referred to herein as a "component," which can include "logic" and/or "circuit."

[0075] It noted that the example device 700 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7 may represent one example of many potential implementations of aspects of this disclosure. Accordingly, division, omission or inclusion of block functions depicted in the accompanying figures does not infer that the hardware components, circuits, software and/or elements for implementing these functions would be necessarily be divided, omitted, or included in embodiments.

[0076] FIG. 8 presents another example embodiment 800 of a device 810 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The device 810 can embody or can constitute, for example, one of the communication devices 110a, 110b, or 110c; the station devices 212, 213, 222, 223, 233, or 232; one or more of the base stations 114a, 114b, or 114c; AP devices 216, 226, or 236; and/or any other devices (e.g., device 510) that can implement or otherwise leverage configuration of data path groups in accordance with aspects described herein. In some embodiments, the device 810 can embody or can constitute any one of the devices in a low- power network. As such, the device 810 can embody an AP device or a station device as described herein.

[0077] As illustrated, the device 810 can include, among other things, physical layer (PHY) circuitry 820 and media access control layer (MAC) circuitry 830. In one aspect, the PHY circuitry 820 and the MAC circuitry 830 can be layers compliant with IEEE 802.15.4 and/or Thread protocols, and also can be compliant, in some embodiments, with one or more Wi-Fi protocols, such as one or more of NAN protocols and/or or protocol(s) of the family of IEEE 802.11 standards. In one aspect, the MAC circuitry 830 can be arranged to configure physical layer converge protocol (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDUs) and arranged to transmit and receive PPDUs, among other things. In addition or in other embodiments, the device 810 also can include other hardware processing circuitry 840 (e.g., one or more processors) and one or more memory devices 850 (which can be collectively referred to as memory 850) configured to perform the various operations for configuration of data path groups as described herein.

[0078] In some embodiments, the MAC circuitry 830 can be arranged to contend for a wireless medium during a contention period to receive control of the medium for a control period and configure a PPDU. In addition or in other embodiments, the PHY circuitry 820 can be arranged to transmit the PPDU. The PHY circuitry 820 can include circuitry for

modulation/demodulation, upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc. As such, the device 810 can include a transceiver to transmit and receive data such as PPDU. In some embodiments, the hardware processing circuitry 840 can include one or more processors. The hardware processing circuitry 840 can be configured to perform functions based on instructions being stored in a memory device (e.g., volatile random access memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM, or read only memory (ROM)) or based on special purpose circuitry. In some

embodiments, the hardware processing circuitry 840 can be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein, such as allocating bandwidth or receiving allocations of bandwidth.

[0079] In some embodiments, one or more antennas may be coupled to or included in the PHY circuitry 820. The antenna(s) can transmit and receive wireless signals, including transmission of HEW packets or other type of radio packets. As described herein, the one or more antennas can include one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In scenarios in which MIMO communication is utilized, the antennas may be physically separated to leverage spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result.

[0080] The memory 850 can retain or otherwise store information for configuring the other circuitry to perform operations for configuring and transmitting packets compliant with Thread protocols and/or other types of radio packets, and performing the various operations described herein including, for example, configuring a data path group in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. The memory 850 can include any type of memory devices, including non-transitory storage media, for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer or another type of computing device). As an illustration, the memory 850 can include at least one computer-readable storage device, such as ROM device(s), RAM device(s), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memory device(s), and other storage devices and media.

[0081] The device 810 can be configured to communicate using OFDM communication signals over a multicarrier communication channel. More specifically, in some embodiments, the device 810 can be configured to communicate in accordance with one or more specific radio technology protocols, such as the IEEE family of standards including IEEE 802.1 1, IEEE 802.11η, IEEE 802.1 l ac, IEEE 802.1 lax, IEEE 802.15.4, DensiFi, and/or proposed specifications for WLANs. In one of such embodiments, the device 810 can utilize or otherwise rely on symbols having a duration that is four times the symbol duration of IEEE 802.1 In and/or IEEE 802.11 ac. It is noted that the disclosure is not limited in this respect and, in some embodiments, the device 810 also can transmit and/or receive wireless communications in accordance with other protocols and/or standards.

[0082] The device 810 can be embodied in or can constitute a portable wireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wireless headset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, an access point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), an access point, a base station, a transmit/receive device for a wireless standard such as IEEE 802.1 1, IEEE 802.15.4, or IEEE 802.16, or other types of communication device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly. Similarly to other devices of this disclosure, the device 810 can include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a display, a non-volatile memory port, multiple antennas, a graphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobile device elements. The display may be an LCD screen including a touch screen.

[0083] It is noted that while the device 810 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. For example, some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein. In some embodiments, the functional elements may refer to one or more processes operating or otherwise executing on one or more processors. It is further noted that portions of the device 810 can embody or can constitute an apparatus. For instance, the processing circuitry 840 and the memory 850 can embody or can constitute an apparatus that can operate in accordance with one or more aspects of this disclosure. The apparatus also can include functional elements (e.g., a bus architecture and/or API(s) as described herein) that can permit exchange of information between the processing circuitry 840 and the memory 850.

[0084] In view of the functionalities described herein in accordance with this disclosure, various techniques can be implemented for identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse and can operate according to a specific communication protocol (e.g., an IEEE 802.1 1 standardized protocol). Example of such techniques can be better appreciated with reference, for example, to the flowcharts in FIGS. 9-10. For purposes of simplicity of explanation, the example method disclosed herein is presented and described as a series of blocks (with each block representing one or more actions or operations, for example). However, it is to be understood and appreciated that the illustrated method is not limited by the order of blocks and associated actions or operations, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from those that are shown and described herein. For example, the various methods (or processes or techniques) in accordance with this disclosure can be alternatively represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Furthermore, not all illustrated blocks, and associated action(s), may be required to implement a method in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. Further yet, two or more of the disclosed methods or processes, or functionalities described herein in connection with adaptive mid-packet detection, can be implemented in combination with each other in order to accomplish one or more of the elements or advantages of this disclosure.

[0085] It is noted that the techniques of this disclosure can be retained on an article of manufacture, or computer-readable medium, to permit or facilitate transporting and transferring such methods to a computing device (e.g., a desktop computer; a mobile computer, such as a tablet, or a smartphone; a gaming console, a mobile telephone; a blade computer; a

programmable logic controller, and the like) for execution, and thus implementation, by a processor of the computing device or for storage in a memory thereof or functionally coupled thereto. In one aspect, one or more processors, such as processor(s) that implement (e.g., execute) one or more of the disclosed techniques, can be employed to execute code instructions retained in a memory, or any computer- or machine-readable medium, to implement the one or more methods. The code instructions can provide a computer-executable or machine-executable framework to implement the techniques described herein.

[0086] FIG. 9 presents a flowchart of an example method 900 for identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. At least a portion of the example method 900 can be implemented by a device in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. The device can include computing resources and communication resources that can permit, at least, wireless communication between the device and another device. The computing resources can include, for example, one or more processors and one or more computer-accessible storage devices. The communication resources can include one or more antennas and circuitry (or, in some embodiments, other components) that can permit processing analog information and/or digital information for, at least, the wireless communication between the device and the other device. At least a portion of the analog information and/or at least a portion of the digital information can be processed according to a radio technology protocol, as described herein. At least some of the computing resources and/or at least some of the communication resources can implement one or more blocks of the example method 900. [0087] More specifically, in some embodiments, an AP device (e.g., API device 216, AP2 device 226, AP3 device 236, or AP device 405) can implement (e.g., execute) the blocks of the example method 900. At block 910, the AP device can identify a group of AP devices for interference measurement. At block 920, the AP device can generate first information indicative or otherwise representative of the group of AP devices. At block 930, the AP device can provide or otherwise make available the firs information for transmission to a remote device (e.g., STA1 device 212, STA2 device 223, or station device 410). At block 940, the AP device can receive second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices. At block 950, the AP device can determine, using at least the second information, if transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from an AP device of the group of AP devices is feasible.

[0088] FIG. 10 presents a flowchart of an example method 1000 for identifying a device for spatial frequency reuse in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. At least a portion of the example method 1000 can be implemented by a device in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. The device can include computing resources and communication resources that can permit, at least, wireless communication between the device and another device. The computing resources can include, for example, one or more processors and one or more computer-accessible storage devices. The communication resources can include one or more antennas and circuitry (or, in some embodiments, other components) that can permit processing analog information and/or digital information for, at least, the wireless

communication between the device and the other device. At least a portion of the analog information and/or at least a portion of the digital information can be processed according to a radio technology protocol, as described herein. At least some of the computing resources and/or at least some of the communication resources can implement one or more blocks of the example method 900.

[0089] More specifically, in some embodiments, a station device (e.g., STA1 device 212, STA2 device 223, or station device 410) can implement (e.g., execute) the blocks of the example method 1000. At block 1010, the station device can receive first information indicative of a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement. At block 1020, the station device can determine respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices. At block 1030, the station device can provide second information indicative of the respective amounts of interference for transmission to a remote device (e.g., AP device). In addition or in some embodiments, the second information can include one or more RSSIs and one or more AP identifiers of respective one or more AP devices associated with or otherwise corresponding to the one or more RSSIs. At block 1040, the station device can transmit at least a portion of the second information to the remote device.

[0090] Further Examples.— The following example embodiments pertain to further

embodiments of this disclosure. Example 1 is a device for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory device having instructions encoded thereon; and at least one processor functionally coupled to the at least one memory device and configured to execute the instructions to: identify a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; generate first information indicative of the group of AP devices; provide the first information for transmission to a remote device; receive second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more first AP devices of the group of AP devices is feasible. In example 2, to generate the first information, the device of example 1 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to generate an element comprising the first information. In example 3, the device of any one of examples 1-2 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the at least one processor further being configured to execute the instructions to generate a partial basic service set identifier (BSSID) bitmap representative of the list of the AP devices. In example 4, the device of any one of examples 1-3 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the at least one processor further being configured to execute the instructions to generate a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices. In example 5, the device of any one of examples 1-4 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the at least one processor further being configured to execute the instructions to format the list of the AP devices as one of a first list of BSSIDs corresponding to the AP devices or a second list of BSS colors corresponding to the AP devices. In example 6, to determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the device of any one of examples 1-5 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 7, to determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the device of any one of examples 1-6 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and to determine that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 8, to determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the device of any one of examples 1-7 can optionally include the at least one processor further being configured to execute the instructions to determine that a signal to interference-plus -noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation-coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and wherein the signal is determined based at least on a transmission power of the device, and wherein the interference is determined based at least on a sum of respective second amounts of interference of a subset of neighboring AP devices of the group of AP devices from the remote device plus a defined offset amount. In example 9, the device of any one of examples 1-8 can optionally include a communication unit configured to process information according to a defined radio technology protocol, the communication unit being functionally coupled to the at least one processor, and wherein to provide the first information for transmission to the remote device, the at least one processor and is further configured to send at least a portion of the first information to the communication unit. In example 10, the device of any one of examples 1-9 can optionally include a radio unit configured to send wireless signals to the remote device according to a defined radio technology protocol, the radio unit comprising at least one transceiver and at least one antenna, wherein the radio unit is functionally coupled to the communication unit and is further configured to send, within the wireless signals, at least the portion of the first information to the remote device. In example 11, the device of any one of examples 1-10 can optionally include the radio unit being further configured to receive second wireless signals according to the defined radio technology protocol, and wherein the device comprises a communication unit that processes at least a portion of the second wireless signals, according to the defined radio technology protocol, to determine the second information from at least a portion of the second wireless signals. In example 12, the device of any one of examples 1-11 can optionally include at least a portion of the second information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for at least one of a frame or a beacon signal received at the remote device and an AP identifier of an AP device associated with the RSSI.

[0091] Example 13 is a device for wireless communications, comprising: at least one memory device having instructions encoded thereon; and at least one processor functionally coupled to the at least one memory device and configured to execute the instructions to: receive first information indicative of a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; determine respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and provide second information indicative of the respective amounts of interference for transmission to a remote device. In example 14, to determine the respective amounts of interference, the device of example 13 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a beacon signal corresponds to an AP device of the group of AP devices, and to determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the beacon signal. In example 15, to determine that the beacon signal corresponds to the AP device of the group of AP devices, the device of example 14 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to identify at least one of a BSSID carried in the beacon signal or a BSS color carried in the beacon signal. In example 16, the device of example 14 can optionally include the at least one processor being further configured to execute the instructions to adjust the RSSI indicator based at least on a first bandwidth utilized by the AP device to transmit the beacon signal and a second bandwidth utilized by the device to receive the beacon signal. In example 17, the device of any one of examples 13-16 can optionally include a radio unit configured to receive wireless signals according to the defined radio technology protocol, and wherein the device comprises a communication unit that processes at least a portion of the wireless signals, according to the defined radio technology protocol, to determine the first information from at least a portion of the second wireless signals. In example 18, the device of any one of examples 13-17 can optionally include the radio unit being further configured to send second wireless signals to a remote device according to a defined radio technology protocol, the radio unit comprising at least one transceiver and at least one antenna, wherein the radio unit is functionally coupled to the at least one processor and is further configured to send, within the second wireless signals, at least a portion of the second information to the remote device.

[0092] Example 19 is a method for wireless communication, comprising: identifying, by a computing device comprising at least one processor, a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; generating, by the computing device, first information indicative of the group of AP devices; providing the first information for transmission to a remote device; receiving, by the computing device, second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and determining, by the computing device, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible. In example 20, the method of example 19, where the generating, by the computing device, the first information can include generating an element comprising the first information. In example 21, the method of any one of examples 19-20 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises generating a partial basic service set identifier (BSSID) bitmap representative of the list of the AP devices. In example 22, the method of any one of examples 19-21 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises generating a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices. In example 23, the method of any one of examples 19-22 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises generating a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices. In example 24, the method of any one of examples 19-23 can optionally include determining that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 25, the method of any one of examples 19-24 can optionally include determining that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and determining that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 26, the method of any one of examples 19-25 can optionally include determining that a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation-coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and wherein the signal is determined based at least on a transmission power of the device, and wherein the interference is determined based at least on a sum of respective second amounts of interference of a subset of neighboring AP devices of the group of AP devices from the remote device plus a defined offset amount. In example 27, the method of any one of examples 19-26 can optionally include at least a portion of the second information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for at least one of a frame or a beacon signal received at the remote device and an AP identifier of an AP device associated with the RSSI.

[0093] Example 28 is an at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer-accessible instructions that, in response to execution, cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising: identifying a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; generating first in formation indicative of the group of AP devices; providing the first information for transmission to a remote device; receiving second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and determining using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more first AP devices of the group of AP devices is feasible. In example 29, the computer-readable medium of example 28 where the generating the first information can optionally include generating an element comprising the first information. In example 30, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-29 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the generating comprising generating a partial basic service set identifier (BSSID) bitmap representative of the list of the AP devices. In example 31, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-30 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the generating comprising generating a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices. In example 32, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-31 can optionally include the first information comprising a list of the AP devices, and the generating comprising formatting the list of the AP devices as one of a first list of BSSIDs corresponding to the AP devices or a second list of BSS color corresponding to the AP devices. In example 33, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-32 can optionally include determining that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 34, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-33 can optionally include the determining that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and determining that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than the defined threshold amount. In example 35, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-34 can optionally include determining that a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation-coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and wherein the signal is determined based at least on a transmission power of the device, and wherein the interference is determined based at least on a sum of respective second amounts of interference of a subset of neighboring AP devices of the group of AP devices from the remote device plus a defined offset amount. In example 36, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 28-35 can optionally include at least a portion of the second information including a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for at least one of a frame or a beacon signal received at the remote device and an AP identifier of an AP device associated with the RSSI.

[0094] Example 37 is a method for wireless communications, comprising: receiving, by a computing device comprising at least one processor, first information indicative of a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; determining, by the computing device, respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and providing, by the computing device, second information indicative of the respective amounts of interference for transmission to a remote device. In example 38, the method of example 37 where the determining can optionally include determining that a beacon signal corresponds to an AP device of the group of AP devices, and determining a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the beacon signal. In example 39, the method of any one of examples 37-38 where the determining can optionally include identifying at least one of a BSSID carried in the beacon signal or a BSS color carried in the beacon signal. In example 40, the method of any one of examples 37-39 can optionally include adjusting the RSSI indicator based at least on a first bandwidth utilized by the AP device to transmit the beacon signal and a second bandwidth utilized by the device to receive the beacon signal.

[0095] Example 41 is an at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer-accessible instructions that, in response to execution, cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising: method for wireless communications, comprising: receiving first information indicative of a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; determining respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and providing second information indicative of the respective amounts of interference for transmission to a remote device. In example 42, the computer-readable medium of example 41 where the determining can optionally include determining that a beacon signal corresponds to an AP device of the group of AP devices, and determining a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the beacon signal. In example 43, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 41-42 where the determining can optionally include identifying at least one of a BSSID carried in the beacon signal or a BSS color carried in the beacon signal. In example 44, the computer-readable medium of any one of examples 41-43 can optionally include adjusting the RSSI indicator based at least on a first bandwidth utilized by the AP device to transmit the beacon signal and a second bandwidth utilized by the device to receive the beacon signal.

[0096] Various embodiments of the disclosure may take the form of an entirely or partially hardware embodiment, an entirely or partially software embodiment, or a combination of software and hardware (e.g., a firmware embodiment). 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. As described herein, various embodiments of the disclosure (e.g., methods and/or systems) may take the form of a computer program product comprising a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having computer-accessible instructions (e.g., computer-readable and/or computer-executable instructions) such as computer software, encoded or otherwise embodied in such storage medium. Those instructions can be read or otherwise accessed and executed by one or more processors to perform or permit performance of the operations described herein. The instructions can be provided in any suitable form, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, assembler code, combinations of the foregoing, and the like. Any suitable computer-readable non-transitory storage medium may be utilized to form the computer program product. For instance, the computer-readable medium may include any tangible non-transitory medium for storing information in a form readable or otherwise accessible by one or more computers or processor(s) functionally coupled thereto. Non-transitory storage media can include ROM device(s); RAM device(s); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory device(s); resistive memory device(s); etc. 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.

[0097] 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 non-removable 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] Some embodiments may be described using the expression "coupled" and "connected" along with their derivatives. Specifically, 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. In addition, as used in the present specification and annexed drawings, the term "communicate" is intended to include transmitting, or receiving, or both transmitting and receiving. This may be particularly useful in claims when describing the organization of data that is being transmitted by one device and received by another, but only the functionality of one of those devices is required to infringe the claim. Similarly, the bidirectional exchange of data between two devices (both devices transmit and receive during the exchange) may be described as "communicating," when only the functionality of one of those devices is being claimed. The term "communicating" as used herein with respect to a wireless communication signal includes transmitting the wireless communication signal and/or receiving the wireless communication signal. For example, a wireless communication unit, which is capable of communicating a wireless communication signal, may include a wireless transmitter to transmit the wireless communication signal to at least one other wireless communication unit, and/or a wireless communication receiver to receive the wireless communication signal from at least one other wireless communication unit. [0100] 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] In addition, in the present disclosure, various elements are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. Yet, such illustrations are not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more elements 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. 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 as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or ordinal requirements on their objects.

[0103] Although the subj ect matter has been described in language specific to structural elements and/or techniques, the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific elements or the techniques described above. Rather, the specific elements and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Further, the methods described herein do not have to be executed in the order described or in any particular order. Furthermore, various acts or operations described with respect to the methods disclosed herein can be executed in serial or parallel fashion.

[0104] Embodiments of the operational environments and techniques (procedures, methods, processes, and the like) are described herein with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, systems, apparatuses and computer program products. It can be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer-accessible instructions. In certain implementations, the computer-accessible instructions may be loaded or otherwise incorporated into a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable information processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the operations or functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks can be implemented in response to execution at the computer or processing apparatus.

[0105] Blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, may be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations of special -purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0106] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any protocol, procedure, process, or method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its acts or steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a process or method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its acts or steps or it is not otherwise specifically recited in the claims or descriptions of the subject disclosure that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification or annexed drawings, or the like.

[0107] As used in this application, the terms "component," "environment," "system,"

"architecture," "interface," "unit," "module," "engine," "platform," "module," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities. Such entities may be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable portion of software, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computing device. For example, both a software application executing on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution. A component may be localized on one computing device or distributed between two or more computing devices. As described herein, a component can execute from various computer- readable non-transitory media having various data structures stored thereon. Components can communicate via local and/or remote processes in accordance, for example, with a signal (either analogic or digital) having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as a wide area network with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry that is controlled by a software application or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can include a processor therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. An interface can include input/output (I/O) components as well as associated processor, application, and/or other programming components. The terms "component," "environment," "system," "architecture," "interface," "unit," "engine," "platform," "module" can be utilized

interchangeably and can be referred to collectively as functional elements.

[0108] In the present specification and annexed drawings, reference to a "processor" is made. As utilized herein, a processor can refer to any computing processing unit or device comprising single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi- core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can be implemented as a combination of computing processing units. In certain embodiments, processors can utilize nanoscale architectures, such as molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment.

[0109] In addition, in the present specification and annexed drawings, terms such as "store," storage," "data store," "data storage," "memory," "repository," and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component of the disclosure, refer to "memory components," entities embodied in a "memory," or components forming the memory. It can be appreciated that the memory components or memories described herein embody or comprise non-transitory computer storage media that can be readable or otherwise accessible by a computing device. Such media can be implemented in any methods or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, information structures, program modules, or other information objects. The memory components or memories can be either volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memory. In addition, the memory components or memories can be removable or non-removable, and/or internal or external to a computing device or component. Example of various types of non-transitory storage media can comprise hard-disc drives, zip drives, CD- ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory cards or other types of memory cards, cartridges, or any other non-transitory medium suitable to retain the desired information and which can be accessed by a computing device.

[0110] As an illustration, a non-volatile memory device can include ROM device, programmable ROM (PROM) device, electrically programmable ROM (EPROM) device, electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM) device, non-volatile RAM, and/or silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon

(SONOS) device. As an illustration, NVRAM devices can be embodied in several forms, including flash memory devices and/or a resistive memory devices, such as magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) devices, phase change RAM (PRAM) devices, and/or conductive bridge RAM (CBRAM)) devices. A volatile memory device can include RAM, which can act as an external cache memory device. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can be available in many forms, such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The disclosed memory components or memories of operational environments described herein are intended to comprise one or more of these and/or any other suitable types of memory.

[0111] Conditional language, such as, among others, "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations could include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation.

[0112] What has been described herein in the present specification and annexed drawings includes examples of systems, devices, techniques, and computer program products that can permit or otherwise facilitate identification of a device for spatial frequency reuse in a network of devices that can operate at low-power and can communicate wirelessly. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of elements and/or methods for purposes of describing the various elements of the disclosure, but it can be recognized that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosed features are possible. Accordingly, it may be apparent that various modifications can be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. In addition or in the alternative, other embodiments of the disclosure may be apparent from consideration of the specification and annexed drawings, and practice of the disclosure as presented herein. It is intended that the examples put forward in the specification and annexed drawings be considered, in all respects, as illustrative and not restrictive. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

s claimed is:

A device for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one memory device having instructions encoded thereon; and

at least one processor functionally coupled to the at least one memory device and

configured to execute the instructions to:

identify a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement;

generate first information indicative of the group of AP devices;

provide the first information for transmission to a remote device;

receive second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and

determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more of first AP devices of the group of AP devices is feasible.

The device of claim 1 , wherein to generate the first information, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to generate an element comprising the first information.

The device of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a. list of the AP devices, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to generate a partial basic service set identifier (BSSID) bitmap representative of the list of the AP devices.

The device of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a list of the AP devices, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to generate a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices.

The device of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a list of the AP devices, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to format the list of the AP devices as one of a first list of BSSIDs corresponding to the AP devices or a second list of BSS colors corresponding to the AP devices. The device of claim 1, wherein to determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than the defined threshold amount.

The device of claim I , wherein to determine, using at least the second information, that transm ission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and

to determine that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than the defined threshold amount.

The device of claim 1, wherein to determine, using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from the one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible, the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine that a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation- coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and

wherein the signal is determined based at least on a transmission power of the device, and

wherein the interference is determined based at least on a sum of respective second amounts of interference of a subset of neighboring AP devices of the group of AP devices from the remote device plus a defined offset amount.

The device of claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to process information according to a defined radio technology protocol, the communication unit being functionally coupled to the at least one processor, and

wherein to provide the first information for transmission to the remote device, the at least one processor and is further configured to send at least a portion of the first information to the communication unit. The device of claim 9, further comprising a radio unit configured to send wireless signals to the remote device according to a defined radio technology protocol, the radio unit comprising at least one transceiver and at least one antenna,

wherein the radio unit is functionally coupled to the communication unit and is further configured to send, within the wireless signals, at least the portion of the first information to the remote device.

1 1 . The device of claim 10, wherein the radio unit is further configured to receive second wireless signals according to the defined radio technology protocol, and wherein the device comprises a communication unit that processes at least a portion of the second wireless signals, according to the defined radio technology protocol, to determine the second information from at least a portion of the second wireless signals.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for at least one of a frame or a beacon signal received at the remote device and an AP identifier of an AP device associated with the RSSI.

13. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

identifying, by a computing device comprising at least one processor, a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement;

generating, by the computing device, first information indicative of the group of AP

devices;

providing the first information for transmission to a remote device;

receiving, by the computing device, second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and

determining, by the computing device, using at least the second information, that

transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more first AP devices of the group of AP device is feasible.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the generating, by the computing device, the first

information comprises generating an element comprising the first information. The method of claim 13, wherein the first information comprises a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises generating a partial basic service set identifier (BSSID) bitmap representative of the list of the AP devices.

The method of claim 13, wherein the first information comprises a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises generating a BSS color bitmap representative of the list of AP devices.

The method of claim 13, wherein the first information comprises a list of the AP devices, and wherein the generating comprises formatting the list of the AP devices as one of a first list of BSSIDs corresponding to the AP devices or a second list of BSS color corresponding to the AP devices.

The method of claim 13, wherein the determining comprises determining that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than the defined threshold amount.

The method of claim 13, wherein the determining comprises determining that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and

determining that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than the defined threshold amount.

The method of claim 13, wherein the determining comprises determining that a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation- coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and

The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the second information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for at least one of a frame or a beacon signal received at the remote device and an AP identifier of an AP device associated with the RSSI.

22. At least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer- accessible instructions that, in response to execution, cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a group of access point (AP) devices for interference measurement; generating first information indicative of the group of AP devices;

providing the first information for transmission to a remote device;

receiving second information indicative of respective amounts of interference for at least one AP device of the group of AP devices; and

determining using at least the second information, that transmission to the remote device nearly simultaneously with downlink transmissions from one or more first

AP devices of the group of AP devices is feasible.

23. The at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the determining comprises determining that a sum of the respective amounts of interference is less than a defined threshold amount.

24. The at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the determining comprises determining that a subset of neighboring AP devices within the group of AP devices is scheduled to transmit substantially simultaneously downlink, and determining that a sum of second respective amounts of interference for the subset of neighboring AP devices is less than a defined threshold amount.

25. The at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the determining comprises determining that a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio to the remote device permits a satisfactory modulation-coding-scheme (MCS) transmission, and wherein the signal is determined based at least on a transmission power of the device, and